Featured Product | Horse Tips | Did You Know? | Meet The Reps | Ron's Corner
MAGA ZINE
ISSUE NO. 4 | December 2017
Featured Product
NEW FLU STRAINS
E
quine influenza (EIV) is not only an acute, extremely contagious viral disease in horses, it’s one of the most common causes of equine viral respiratory tract disease. Historically, flu outbreaks have caused significant economic loss and made a devastating impact on the horse industry. Today, flu continues to be a substantial international threat. Vaccinating is one of the most important ways to protect horses from EIV. However, influenza viruses are constantly changing at the molecular level as they pass from one host to another. This process of minor evolutionary mutations and alterations, known as antigenic drift, leads to new virus strains that a horse’s immune system may not recognize. Due to the changes that can occur with EIV, it is paramount to use effective vaccines with relevant strains to aid in providing the best protection against viruses currently circulating. All current circulating influenza strains originated from what’s known as Florida lineage, which then broke into two separate groups called clade 1 and clade 2. Evidence confirms that the clade 1 strain primarily circulates in the United States while clade 2 predominantly circulates in Europe. 2
PARTNERS IN PRACTICE | December 2017
(To date, no outbreaks of clade 2 have occurred in the United States.) The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Expert Surveillance Panel on Equine Influenza currently recommends that vaccines contain both clade 1 and clade 2 viruses of the Florida sublineage.
Identifying a new threat In February 2013, the annual Ocala Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) event nearly came to a screeching halt due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) and equine influenza virus (EIV) that impacted hundreds of horses. While the initial quarantine was established due to a positive EHV-1 case, it quickly became apparent through PCR testing of nasal swabs that many more horses were impacted by EIV. The highly pathogenic strain of influenza that impacted these horses was ultimately isolated and identified as Florida ‘13 through the Merck Animal Health Respiratory Biosurveillance Program. Florida ‘13 represents a current, clinically significant strain responsible for a large influenza outbreak in well-vaccinated horses. It is the foundation of the next generation of flu-containing killed virus vaccines from Merck Animal Health.
TODAY’S EQUINE INFLUENZA
Prestige vaccines include: ®
FLORIDA ‘13 MIAMI 1963 H3N8 EIV
SUBTYPE Subtype A2 (H3N8) of influenza A virus was first identified in Florida in 1963 and is the only subtype circulating in horses today
RICHMOND ‘07 KENTUCKY ‘02 Meeting OIE and AAEP guidelines for Clade 1 and Clade 2 influenza protection
LINEAGE Mid-1980’s diverged into American and European lineages, named according to geographic origin of isolates
EUROPEAN
AMERICAN
SOUTH AMERICAN
FLORIDA
SUBLINEAGE Subsequently, strains within American lineage diverged into South American, Florida and Kentucky sublineages
KENTUCKY
Predominates North America
Predominates Europe
CLADE 1
CLADE 2
CLADE Today, the Florida sublineage is predominant and has evolved into two antigenically different clades: CLADE 1 AND CLADE 2
Clade 2 like
STRAIN
FLORIDA ‘13
SYDNEY ‘07
SOUTH AFRICA ‘03
OHIO ‘03
KENTUCKY ‘02
RICHMOND ‘07
Reference: A Systematic Review of Recent Advances in Equine Influenza Vaccination. Vaccines 2014, 2, 797-831; doi: 10.3390/vaccines2040797
The new flu-containing vaccines are headlined by the Prestige® brand and now include both Clade 1 and Clade 2 strains. • F lorida ‘13 Clade 1: Based on a highly pathogenic isolate from the 2013 Ocala, Fla., influenza outbreak that impacted hundreds of horses – exclusively identified and isolated through the Merck Animal Health Biosurveillance Program • R ichmond ‘07 Clade 2: Meets World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) guidelines for Clade 2 influenza protection. • I n addition, Kentucky ‘02 will remain part of our flu-containing vaccine line.
This is the Science of Healthier Animals working for you – identifying threats and delivering advanced vaccine solutions to improve the lives of horses. For more information on the new line of Prestige flu-containing vaccines from Merck Animal Health, contact your sales representative or call 800-521-5767.
December 2017 | PARTNERS IN PRACTICE
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Merck Animal Health
HORSE OWNER TIPS Influenza and your horse Equine influenza virus (EIV) is one of the most common and contagious infectious upper respiratory diseases in the horse. - Equine influenza is caused by highly variable strains of the influenza A (H3N8) virus - Widespread in the equine population of the United States and throughout the world - Nearly 100% infection rate in unvaccinated horse populations that have never been exposed to the virus - Spreads quickly; short incubation period of only one to three days - Horses that travel are particularly susceptible to influenza - Can be transmitted through the air – coughing horses can spread nasal droplets more than 200 yards - Horses that are sick for the first time can shed the virus in nasal secretions for as long as seven to 10 days - Indirect transmission can occur via hands, clothing and common use articles such as brushes, bits and buckets - proper biosecurity measures are critical to preventing disease spread - Recovering horses require a minimum of three weeks of rest or at least one week of rest for every day of fever Click to download and share the tips above.
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PARTNERS IN PRACTICE | December 2017
The New Prestige® Beginning with the updated flu-containing killed virus vaccines, Merck Animal Health will be introducing the new Prestige brand family of vaccines. The entire vaccine line (with the exception of Flu Avert® I.N.) will become part of the Prestige line. This naming system will rollout throughout 2018, along with new packaging. The Prestige line of vaccines has a long-standing reputation for safety and efficacy, shown to be 98 percent reaction-free in field safety trials. This is because every killed virus vaccine includes our proprietary Antigen Purification System™ (APS) and exclusive Havlogen® adjuvant. This renaming signifies to veterinarians and horse owners that every Prestige vaccine they purchase includes these technologies. -H avlogen stimulates the immune system to produce high, long-lasting levels of protection through the slow release and gradual absorption of antigen. Due to the composition of Havlogen, the vaccine maintains suspension without separation and settling in the vial — resulting in consistency and potency in every dose. - The Antigen Purification System removes unwanted protein and cellular debris from the vaccine antigen. Using this method of filtration purification allows concentration of antigen, while minimizing the presence of extraneous protein and cellular debris that can contribute to vaccine associated adverse events. More to come as this update unfolds over the course of 2018.
CURRENT PRODUCT
CURRENT UIN
Prestige® II
030872
1 x 10 mL
Prestige® II 10 x 1 mL
Encevac® TC-4 1 x 10 mL
Encevac® TC-4 10 x 1 mL
Prestige® V 1 x 10 mL
Prestige® V 10 x 1 mL
Prestige® V + WNV 1 x 10 mL
Prestige® V + WNV 10 x 1 mL
Prestige® V + VEE 1 x 10 mL
Prestige® V + VEE 10 x 1 mL
NEW PRODUCT
NEW UIN
PRES T IG E ® 2
192092
1 x 10 mL
030791
PRES T IG E ® 2
031685
PRES T IG E ® 4
035127
PRES T IG E ® 4
036595
PRES T IG E ® 5
036486
PRES T IG E ® 5
086982
PRES T IG E ® 5 + W NV
094938
PRES T IG E ® 5 + W NV
032887
PRES T IG E ® 5 + V EE
030313
PRES T IG E ® 5 + V EE
196595
10 x 1 mL
188726
1 x 10 mL
183130
10 x 1 mL
180791
1 x 10 mL
180363
10 x 1 mL
1 x 10 mL
10 x 1 mL
1 x 10 mL
10 x 1 mL
182299 192936 178785 190069
Did You Know? Equine Biosurveillance Program
During an acute disease outbreak, diagnostic accuracy and
Since 2008, Merck Animal Health, in collaboration with the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (UC Davis) has been conducting an ongoing, voluntary equine biosurveillance program to study the prevalence and epidemiology of relevant viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens.
timing are critical to ensure proper treatment. They are also
As of October 2017, more than 7,000 samples from U.S. horses of numerous ages, genders and breeds presenting with fever and signs of acute upper respiratory disease and/or acute neurological disease have been collected.
you to contact a Merck Animal Health sales representative or
Samples are tested via quantitative PCR at UC Davis for six infectious upper respiratory disease pathogens: • Equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4 (EHV-1, EHV-4) • Equine influenza virus (EIV) • S. equi subspecies equi (Strangles) • Equine rhinitis A/B viruses (ERAV/ERBV) It was through the Merck Animal Health biosurveillance program that the new Florida ‘13 strain of influenza was identified and isolated. This isolate is now part of our updated line of influenza-containing killed virus vaccines.
vital for providing guidance and recommendations about vaccination,management, biosecurity and the potential need for quarantine. For more information on the biosurveillance program, we invite our customer service department at 800-521-5767.
“ The program serves as an important reminder that the majority of infectious upper respiratory pathogens are highly contagious and proper measures should be taken to prevent their spread and transmission, including an accurate diagnosis.” - D. Craig Barnett, D.V.M., Director of Equine Veterinary Technical Services December 2017 | PARTNERS IN PRACTICE
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Meet The Reps
JOHN FORD
Territory Sales Manager Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming j_ford@merck.com 720-666-5635
Tell us a little bit about your horse background. A friend of mine introduced me to team roping about 35 years ago and persuaded me to purchase my first heading horse, Steamboat. He was a true steamboat – slow and lazy! I learned most of my horsemanship skills by going to roping clinics, reading, watching others and trying things on my own horses, and take pride in the fact that I’ve gentled, trained and finished my horses. Last year, I purchased a red roan filly and hope to start her in the spring. If you were a horse, what type of horse would you be? Probably a buckskin Quarter Horse. I’ve always liked the buckskin color. Best horse advice you’ve ever received? A free horse is never free. Outside of the equestrian world, what is your favorite hobby? I like to rebuild old motorcycles. I just completed a 1980 Honda 750 CB, and I’m currently working on a 1979 Volkswagen bug convertible. I also play competitive tennis with my older kids. We enjoy playing in tournaments occasionally. How long have you been working for Merck Animal Health? Only two years with Merck Animal Health, but I worked for Merck on the human side for 21 years.
Q&A
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PARTNERS IN PRACTICE | December 2017
What is your favorite part of being an equine sales representative? Veterinarians are really nice people and generally want to listen and learn from you. I also have some veterinary clients who team rope, so it’s always fun to interact with those individuals. If there were one thing you would want your customers to know about you, what would it be? I am looking out for you and what's best for your horse owners. If I can help your business or educate your horse owners a little more to make your job easier, please call me. Merck Animal Health is an ethical, upstanding company. We have phenomenal resources. It's my job to get those resources to you.
Meet The Reps
SHANNON CUFF Territory Sales Manager Arizona, S. California, S. Nevada shannon.hanoka@merck.com 520-979-5226 Tell us a little bit about your horse background. I have been riding horses since the age of 2. I began showing English and rode jumpers until I was a teenager, then I caught the barrel racing bug. I was a top 15 barrel racing finalist for the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association, and a member of the University of Arizona rodeo team. Currently, I have two barrel horses and am working toward fulfilling my Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) permit by year end. If you were a horse, what type of horse would you be? Quarter Horse. I love how versatile a Quarter Horse can be. They are smart and quick, not to mention good looking.
Outside of the equestrian world, what is your favorite hobby? I love spending time with my little boy, Levi, and my husband, Ryan. I like to read and workout as well. How long have you been working for Merck Animal Health? I’ve been with Merck Animal Health for three years. What is your favorite part of being an equine sales representative? My customers. I love being able to interact with veterinarians from all different backgrounds and learn their specialties. If there were one thing you would want your customers to know about you, what would it be? I am very competitive and like to solve puzzles. If there is a problem, I like to fix it.
Contact your Merck Animal Health rep to find out about any special offers.
Best horse advice you’ve ever received? Never quit learning. When it comes to training and riding, remember each horse is different and may require something different than another horse in your barn. Also, have enough tools in your tool bag to be able to try something different.
Q&A December 2017 | PARTNERS IN PRACTICE
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Ron's Corner
RON ’S C OR N E R Volume 4
A
s I’m writing this we have just completed our participation in the 63rd Annual AAEP Convention. Wow, it gets better every year! My team and I are so fortunate to make a living in the equine industry working with veterinarians, and the AAEP Convention is the icing on the cake each year. To see that many veterinarians in one spot is a pure highlight that’s both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is obvious. I get to see so many of you during the convention that I literally can’t turn around without seeing a friend. The curse is the flip side of that coin. Each year as I travel the country, I make more friends, which is a blessing. However, that also means there are more people I feel like I have “high hatted” at the end of the convention each year. Rushing to meetings; responsibilities as the sales leader for Merck Animal Health; commitments to the AAEP, etc., mean I’m in a hurry just to meet my obligations. So, many times, I have to brush by a friend with a quick “How are you?” and often don’t get the opportunity to stop and have a more meaningful conversation. That’s a good problem to have but I still regret not having more time to visit. If you haven’t heard yet, we tried something new this year that I’ve wanted to do for some time. We hosted the first annual Merck Animal Health Vet Story Night! To say it was a success would be an understatement. It was amazing! Though it sounds as if I’m bragging, hear me out.
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PARTNERS IN PRACTICE | December 2017
I verified what I’ve known for years. Equine veterinarians have the best stories of any profession. The Merck Equine team simply created, organized, and hosted a venue where your colleagues could step up on stage and share their stories. We used this opportunity to raise awareness and money for the AAEP Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the welfare of horses through the support of equine research, education (veterinary student programs and scholarships) and benevolence (disaster relief and preparedness and equitarian/working equid programs). We raised almost $9,000 for the Foundation and had more than 350 people in the audience to hear some of the funniest stories on earth. The entertainment was diverse, including great story telling, poetry,
music in the form of a spoof of the country song “Honey I’m Home,” written by two veterinarians, and even a 10-minute stand-up comedy routine performed by a veterinarian from Austin, Texas. It was an incredible night, so for those of you attending the convention in San Francisco next year, stay tuned as Vet Story Night will be bigger and better! I’ll close by encouraging all of you to capture your stories. You may not ever get up on stage but, take it from an old cowboy, one day you’ll wish you’d kept a journal or a recording of the many stories you’re blessed to experience. If for no other reason it will be a wonderful keepsake for your children and grandchildren.
with us at Merck Animal Health. We are grateful for the trust you place in us and our products. Happy Trails,
Ron McDaniel Director, Equine Sales
This article would not be complete without thanking you for doing business December 2017 | PARTNERS IN PRACTICE
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The Science of Healthier Animals 2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-equine.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2017 Intervet Inc., d/b/a/ Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 3828-EQUINE-PIP-NEWSLETTER.