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MAGA ZINE
ISSUE NO. 1 | April 2018
Featured Product
NEW FLU STRAINS Getting to know the new equine influenza strains Special Q&A with Dr. Bryant Craig
Q: Why are equine influenza vaccines updated periodically?
Last November, at the 2017 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) annual convention in San Antonio, we unveiled our new updated equine influenza vaccines. If you didn’t get a chance to see us at AAEP or get briefed by your sales representative yet, we sat down with our own Dr. Bryant Craig of the equine veterinary professional services team to talk more about equine influenza and the new influenza strains in Merck Animal Health’s PRESTIGE® line of killed virus vaccines.
Dr. Craig: As mentioned, 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 doesn’t recognize. Due to the changes that can occur with EIV, it is paramount to update vaccines to keep up with these antigenic changes. This helps ensure that vaccine strains provide relevant protection against influenza viruses currently circulating in our equine populations.
Q: How concerned should we be as an industry about equine influenza? Dr. Craig: Equine influenza is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the more common equine infectious diseases impacting our horses. This is because of its ability to evolve over time. This phenomenon, known as antigenic drift, is the reason we need to stay vigilant and continually monitor equine influenza to help identify new strains that can cause significant disease in our horses and update vaccines accordingly. Outbreaks in well-vaccinated horses are a telltale sign of antigenic drift. The new Florida ‘13 strain was one such example and – as you may know – is now the cornerstone of our killed line of flucontaining vaccines. More on that shortly. We also can’t forget that EIV is one of the most common and contagious diseases impacting horses. While it is rarely life-threatening, EIV can sideline a horse for weeks and even months. If not properly treated, secondary bacterial pneumonia can develop. We don’t have to travel too far back in the history books to recognize EIV’s significance and ability to devastate the horse industry. 2
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Q: Is antigenic drift specific to equine influenza? Dr. Craig: Antigenic drift is not specific to equine influenza – the same phenomenon occurs with influenza viruses affecting other species, including humans. So, just like human flu vaccines, equine flu vaccines must be updated to provide protection against influenza viruses currently circulating and impacting our horses.
Q: What is a clade? Dr. Craig: Clade is a group of organisms with a common ancestor. In the case of equine influenza, clade is used to describe recently isolated viruses (or strains) of equine influenza that belong to the same family – or sublineage – but have antigenic differences. All recently isolated influenza viruses (or strains) in North America and Europe belong to the Florida clades 1 and 2 sublineages, respectively. Clade 1 primarily circulates in the United States, while clade 2 predominantly circulates in Europe. Strains are identified by place and date of first isolation (e.g., Florida ‘13).
Q: Why do horses need clade 1 and clade 2 influenza protection?
Q: What is the Merck Animal Health Biosurveillance Program?
Dr. Craig: 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. Clade 1 primarily circulates in the United States, while clade 2 predominantly circulates in Europe. Although there have been no clade 2 influenza outbreaks in the U.S., clade 2 protection is considered an additional safeguard for the many horses that travel internationally.
Dr. Craig: 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. More than 7,300 samples from U.S. horses have been collected since the program began. Submitted samples are tested for six infectious upper respiratory disease pathogens, including equine herspesvirus types 1 and 4, equine influenza virus, S. equi subspecies equi (strangles) and equine rhinitis A/B viruses. It was through this program that the new Florida ‘13 strain of influenza was identified and isolated.
Q: What is Florida ‘13? Dr. Craig: Florida ‘13 represents a current, clinically significant strain of equine influenza that was responsible for a large influenza outbreak in well-vaccinated horses. In February 2013, the annual Ocala Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) international event experienced a large outbreak of equine herpesvirus type 1 and equine influenza that impacted a large number of well-vaccinated horses. 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 and is now part of our killed line of equine influenza vaccines. Florida ‘13 is a clade 1 influenza strain.
Q: What makes Florida ‘13 significant? Dr. Craig: Flu strains are named based on the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface glycoproteins. Different strains of EIV can be compared to one another by sequencing the HA glycoprotein. The HA glycoprotein is responsible for the virus entry into the host cells. The antibodies generated through vaccination are directed specifically towards the HA site, rendering them unable to gain entry to the cell. As antigenic drift occurs, the HA glycoprotein changes so that pre-existing HA binding antibodies do not recognize the ‘new’ HA glycoprotein and do not bind. As antigenic drift continues, current circulating field isolates/strains may be quite different from older vaccine strains. Therefore, older vaccine strains may not stimulate production of appropriate HA antibodies. Florida ‘13 differs from OH ‘03 (OIE recommended clade 1 isolate) by seven amino acid changes, and five of those mutations occur on the surface of the HA glycoprotein and are in or near regions associated with antibody binding or receptor binding sites1 – making them critically significant. This is likely why Florida ‘13 was able to “break through” and cause disease in these well-vaccinated
Q: What influenza strains are included in Merck Animal Health’s vaccines? Dr. Craig: Merck Animal Health influenza-containing killed virus vaccines include Florida ‘13, Richmond ‘07 and Kentucky ‘02 strains. Florida ‘13 and Richmond ‘07 are new strains that were added to the existing Kentucky ‘02 strain. Florida ‘13 is a clade 1 influenza strain and Richmond ‘07 is a clade 2 influenza strain. With these strains, Merck Animal Health is providing protection against currently circulating equine influenza strains.
Q: Which Merck Animal Health vaccines contain updated influenza strains? Dr. Craig: All Merck Animal Health PRESTIGE influenzacontaining killed-virus vaccines will include the updated influenza strains.
Q: If I just vaccinated a horse with an old Merck Animal Health influenza-containing vaccine, do I need to booster? Dr. Craig: If you are concerned with clade 2 protection, it may be beneficial to booster with the new influenza-containing vaccine. Otherwise, horses just vaccinated should not require a booster unless naïve or immune compromised. The equine veterinary professional services team is available to answer veterinarian’s questions. Contact us at 1-866-349-3497 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.
horses competing at the HITS show.
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Data on file. Merck Animal Health.
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Introducing the Perform with PRESTIGE Owner Sweepstakes Merck Animal Health has launched a national horse owner sweepstakes that’s designed specifically to send them your way for expert advice and vaccination recommendation. The goals of the program include: - Educate horse owners on the risks of equine influenza and the importance of vaccinating - Encourage them to visit their veterinarian for a custom vaccination program - Promote the importance of a veterinary-client-patientrelationship (VCPR)
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PRIZE PRIZE VALUED UP TO VALUED UP TO
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Copyright © 2018 Intervet d/b/a/ Merck Animal Health, Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a/Inc., Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary Merck & Co., Inc.reserved. All rights reserved. a subsidiary of Merck &of Co., Inc. All rights
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to U.S. residents, NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to U.S. residents, at least years of age. at least 18 years of18 age.
Digital Banners
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HORSE TRAILER Enter to win at: PerformWithPrestige.com NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to U.S. residents, at least 18 years of age. 2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-equine.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 3841-CLINIC-SWEEPSTAKES-REMINDER-PAD
Reminder Pad
The Perform with PRESTIGE Sweepstakes will run from March 15 to June 30, 2018, and is being promoted through a robust, national media plan. Horse owners will have the opportunity to win great weekly and monthly prizes, as well as a horse trailer to the grand prize winner.
Prestige Pen
Get involved in the sweepstakes Participate by displaying promotional materials in your clinic and online properties. Various promotional items are available to order, including: - Ready-to-use social media graphics - Digital banner ads for your website - Reminder pad and counter card - Infographic poster - Pens and other items For more information, contact your distributor, your Merck Animal Health representative or call 1-800-521-5767.
Merck Animal Health
HORSE OWNER TIPS
MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH
Equine Influenza Quick Facts Equine influenza virus (EIV) – or equine flu – is one of the most common and contagious infectious upper respiratory diseases in the horse. It spreads rapidly with clinical signs appearing within 24 to 72 hours following exposure. A coughing horse can propel equine influenza virus more than 50 yards and shed virus for 7 to 10 days following infection.
THE VIRUS CAN SURVIVE
New EIV Quick Facts Infographic
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Hours on wet surfaces
Hours on dry surfaces
RECOVERY TIME
Indirect transmission can occur via hands, clothing, vehicles and trailers, stalls, and common use articles such as brushes, buckets and bits
Equine flu requires significant recovery time
HANDS
TRAILERS
STALLS
BUCKETS
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Fever (102.5° to 106.5° F) Frequent dry cough Nasal discharge Lethargy Anorexia Possible secondary bacterial pneumonia
• at least three weeks, and up to six months, depending on severity
3 WEEKS to 6 MONTHS
IMPORTANCE OF
The Terminology
Similar to human flu vaccines, equine flu vaccines must be updated to protect against the strains currently threatening horses.
Updated Flu Strains
CLADE
Continued changes in circulating strains of equine flu in the U.S. has resulted in numerous reports of influenza outbreaks over the past several years, even in well-vaccinated horses.
A group of organisms with a common ancestor • In the case of equine influenza, clade is used to describe recently isolated viruses (or strains) of equine influenza that belong to the same family • Current equine flu strains belong to either the Florida clade 1 or clade 2 families • Clade 1 primarily circulates in the United States • Clade 2 predominantly circulates in Europe (important for horses traveling internationally)
STRAIN
Only Prestige vaccines feature the most current equine influenza protection available, including: Florida '13 Clade 1 & Richmond '07 Clade 2, in addition to KY '02. ®
Strains are identified by place and date of first isolation (e.g., Florida ’13). Additional or more current strains may be added to a vaccine to provide additional or enhanced protection. H3N8 (A2): The subtype of equine influenza A virus (first identified in Florida in 1963) circulating in horses today
VACCINATION IS THE #1 WAY TO
Protect Your Horse
ANTIGENIC DRIFT Mutations in the equine influenza virus that lead to new strains. The primary reason equine flu vaccines are periodically updated.
• Equine flu season typically peaks from December to April, but can occur any time of year • Horses at greatest risk should be revaccinated at 6-month intervals1
UNITED STATES Clade 1
EUROPE Clade 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION www.equinediseasecc.org/disease-information www.AAEP.org/guidelines www.aphis.usda.gov Talk to your veterinarian today to ensure your horse is receiving current influenza protection. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health-equine.com.
2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a/ Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 18-MERCK-3901-EIV-INFOGRAPHIC-POSTER
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These Signs
INDIRECT TRANSMISSON
GET TO KNOW
Download the new “Equine Influenza Quick Facts” infographic today and share with your clients on your website or through your social media properties. The infographic offers important facts on the disease, as well as the basics of why – like human flu vaccines – equine flu vaccines must be periodically updated to provide protection against currently circulating strains.
WATCH FOR
Vaccination
+
Biosecurity is Best!
• Horses that travel and are in frequent contact with large numbers of horses • Horses at home exposed to traveling horses • Horses with compromised or immature immune systems 1
AAEP Risk-Based Vaccination Guidelines (www.aaep.org)
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Did You Know?
Merck Animal Health
UHVRC Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
BUSINESS TIPS
What began in 2008 as a nonprofit partnership between Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), has today – 10 years later – grown to an impact of more than $1 million dollars and thousands of vaccine donations for horses in rescue. “This milestone would not be possible without the tireless commitment of the AAEP and its member veterinarians,” says Ron McDaniel, Merck Animal Health director of equine sales and program co-founder. “This program epitomizes so much of what we believe in as an organization and equine team, which boils down to doing the best we can every day to protect the health and wellbeing of the horse.” Notable milestones of the program’s 10-year history include more than: - $1 million in Merck Animal Health vaccine donations - 28,000 horses helped - 1,600 applications received from rescue and retirement facilities in 42 U.S. states - 900 AAEP-member veterinarian supporters The 2018 allocations were recently distributed to more than 3,500 horses in need this spring, following receipt of the most applications in the program’s 10-year history. The UHVRC provides qualifying equine facilities with Merck Animal Health vaccines to protect against eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, equine rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV-4), West Nile virus, equine influenza, tetanus and rabies. To qualify for donated vaccines, facilities must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities, and work with an AAEP-member veterinarian to apply. The annual deadline for vaccine donation applications is February 1.
If you, like most clinics, struggle with preventive care compliance, think about using some of these quick and easy tips to help drive awareness and make it easier for clients to fit preventive care into their annual equine plans. 1) Implement and market a clinic wellness protocol that allows for customization 2) Offer a promotional financing option such as CareCredit to help clients pay for preventive care services 3) Utilize appointment reminders and schedule the next appointment (for fall or booster vaccinations, fecals, etc.) before the end of the farm or clinic visit 4) Leverage social media to engage, educate and keep clients informed of disease risks 5) Use e-mail and other electronic communications, such as newsletters, to deliver timely information and remind owners now is the time for spring wellness checks 6) Host a spring wellness day for clients. Invite your Merck Animal Health sales representative to help organize the event and provide additional man power and educational resources
To learn more and get involved, visit UHVRC.org or talk to your Merck Animal Health sales representative.
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Meet The Reps
KIP BOULE
Senior Territory Sales Manager Alabama, Florida, Georgia kip.boule@merck.com 407-448-2722 Tell us a little bit about your horse background. This will be a short answer. All my horse background has been gained on-the-job. I started a veterinary lab when I graduated from college. I worked with the local equine veterinarians doing their lab work. Then I left the lab and got into pharmaceutical sales, where my colleagues and I started the equine division at Intervet around 2001. The training has been great! If you were a horse, what type of horse would you be? Probably a laid-back trail horse. Best horse advice you’ve ever received? Be aware all the time when around the horse. Pay attention. Outside of the equestrian world, what is your favorite hobby? Cars. I like working on them and hanging with friends. I have corrupted my wife, Kathryn, and now she is a Formula 1® racing fanatic. We have attended two Formula 1 races – in Montreal and Austin, Texas – and plan to attend many more.
Q&A
How long have you been working for Merck Animal Health? Last September marked 20 years – time flies when you’re having fun! What is your favorite part of being an equine sales representative? The diversity of my clients – from racing and breeding, to performance hunters/jumpers. I see a lot of beautiful farms and horses. I also value our equine team – we are like a family! If there were one thing you would want your customers to know about you, what would it be? I always try to do the best for them – I enjoy being part of their success.
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Meet The Reps
AMY LENHART Inside Sales Representative amy.lenhart@merck.com 402-593-2455
Outside of the equestrian world, what is your favorite hobby? There’s life outside of the equestrian world? I recently rescued a young Australian shepherd with some issues. It was suggested I take some classes, so we could bond, and he could get over his life issues. This led to an interest in agility. I am not sure I will ever compete, but it is fun to see the dog’s mind work as he tries to figure out exactly what I want from him.
Q&A Tell us a little bit about your horse background. I do not come from a horse family. To this day, my family only knows horses as “something that takes a lot of time.” I have my childhood neighbors to thank for my horse bug. When I was 4 years old, my neighbors took me riding. I can remember the pony’s name (Lovebug) but not the neighbor’s name! I saved all my money and when I was 10 walked up to my dad and told him I was going to go buy a pony. I have owned a horse ever since. If you were a horse, what type of horse would you be? I would be a Budweiser® Clydesdale. You get the best care, feed, grooming, tack, and you travel around in style with adoring fans. You star in commercials and have all kinds of trinkets modeled after you. When it is time to retire they make sure to find you a great home. The work isn’t too tough as there are eight horses to share in the pulling. I would want to be in the lead position – the smaller, alert, athletic position. Flashier.
How long have you been working for Merck Animal Health? I have held the same position for 17 years but, interestingly enough, I am on my third company and sixth boss! What is your favorite part of being an equine sales representative? I combine two things I enjoy, science and the health of horses. It fits with Merck Animal Health’s motto, “The Science of Healthier Animals.” If there were one thing you would want your customers to know about you, what would it be? I am conscientious and take my obligation to the horse seriously. Whether it is helping the horse itself or the veterinarian who works on keeping the horse healthy. I love to help. If there’s something I do not know I will work on finding the solution/answer.
Contact your Merck Animal Health rep to find out about any special offers.
Best horse advice you’ve ever received? It’s a quote I read from Tom Dorrance, “There is no mysticism, no magic, or only one method in the realm of good horsemanship…It’s knowing that everything you think you know about horses may change with the very next horse.” Each horse is unique and truly individual. They can change moods in the blink of an eye. I think they sometimes reflect how you feel. April 2018 | PARTNERS IN PRACTICE
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Ron's Corner
RON ’S C OR N E R Microchipping: This is Just the Beginning
T
here have been several articles about microchipping horses, some of them very well written, so I’ll try not to be redundant. I’m sure many of you reading this realize the benefits of using a microchip for permanent identification of the horse. Will it replace brands altogether? I doubt it. But maybe my doubt is based on tradition and the ranching culture I come from. Years ago, I purchased a team roping horse that had a freeze brand on his left shoulder – arrow up, down. He was a jet-black horse and that freeze brand stood out like a neon sign. I lost that horse to a lightning strike many years ago yet – to this day – still get asked about the “black horse with the up/down brand.” Sure, that brand was one of the identifiers on his Coggins paper, but it was also his marketing trademark, so to speak. As microchipping becomes the accepted way to identify a horse, will we lose this brand “marketing” of our horses? Not at all. It’s my contention that we’ll enhance what we were able to do with freeze branding. When checking into a large show or rodeo after a long trip, microchipping will do for me and my horse what branding never did. We are not far from being able to link the number read by the scanner to a database that tells the check-in personnel everything they need to know about my horse and the documents needed to enter the grounds, without the need to unload in the dark while digging through my glovebox for papers. And marketability? Instead of claiming the black horse with the up/down brand won over $11,000 in shows and jackpots the last two years, we’ll be able to provide proof that the horse scanned is the same horse that those winnings were recorded for in the
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PARTNERS IN PRACTICE | April 2018
association’s database. This technology will bring even more integrity to our industry as we seek to attract new horse owners. And that’s just the beginning! Consider the recent announcement by the United States Trotting Association (USTA). The USTA Registration Committee recently approved a proposal that all foals, beginning in 2019, be implanted with a microchip. They have partnered with HomeAgain® from Merck Animal Health, the market leader in microchipping for dogs and cats. This was a collaboration between Steve Montemarano, equine specialist with Merck Animal Health, John Corgan with HomeAgain®, and T.C. Lane with the USTA. The USTA wanted to look beyond simply identifying the horse. They wanted to know what else we can do with this technology that will benefit the horse and the owner. After much dialog regarding the desires and needs of the USTA, the new TempScan™ chip from HomeAgain was selected. Using a special scanner, we are now able to display both the chip ID number as well as the body
temperature of the horse. This will allow a new and unique opportunity for monitoring the health of horses at racetracks, shows, clinics, etc. It started with a chip but will extend beyond that to areas beyond comprehension. Bringing technology together with those who know the equine health industry and the horse industry, we’ll see solutions and improvements in multiple areas of the horse business.
So what kind of opportunity do you see for microchipping in your clinic? A new service? An efficient way to monitor health in a hospital setting? A tie-back to a database that provides value for you and your clients? The sky is the limit… and this is just the beginning. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read my ruminations and if this has piqued your curiosity, reach out to us at Merck Animal Health.
Just a few weeks ago, within a span of 48 hours, I spoke about microchipping with two veterinarians. Though each conversation was miles and hours apart from the other, my discussion was essentially the same. One veterinarian felt there was nothing in it for the veterinarian, and while they kept a few chips if an owner asked for one, they felt that was as far as it would go. The other veterinarian had already implanted more than 800 HomeAgain® chips and was actively marketing this to owners, attracting clientele wanting to identify their horses and provide the best care possible for their horse. That clinic was viewed as the leader of horse health and technology in their marketplace.
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The Science of Healthier Animals 2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-equine.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a/ Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 3943-EQUINE-PIP-NEWSLETTER.