MERCK Animal Health announced Sept. 9 the introduction of PRIME PAC PRRS+, a new vaccine for reducing clinical signs of reproductive disease in female breeding-age swine and respiratory disease in pigs three to four weeks of age and older due to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv).

"Vaccination stabilizes the herd's PRRS immunity and reduces the potential of virus circulation. It also offers producers an option that better meets the needs of their changing production practices: a labeled 2 mL dose for sows, as well as a 1 mL dose for pigs," said Dr. Karen Lehe, swine senior account manager at Merck Animal Health.

Results of several respiratory and reproductive challenge trials using both heterologous (of a different structure from the vaccine virus) and homologous (the same structure as virus used to make the vaccine) PRRSv strains demonstrated the safety and efficacy of Prime Pac PRRS+. Clinical trial results also showed that vaccination significantly reduced viremia and the clinical signs of PRRS and provided four months' duration of immunity.

"The vaccine helps mitigate the clinical signs, such as reproductive abnormalities in the breeding herd and high mortality rates in piglets, which take a substantial toll on the health of the herd and an operation's productivity," Lehe said.

PRIME PAC PRRS+ is available in 20 mL and 100 mL packages, as well as a 600-sow/1,200-piglet dose Bulk Pac.

Volume:86 Issue:38