Nobivac L4 offers broader protection

A new vaccine offering broader protection against leptospirosis has been launched by MSD Animal Health. Nobivac L4 is the first tetravalent vaccine against the disease in Europe.

Bivalent vaccines have previously been used to immunise dogs against leptospirosis, but due to changes in the epidemiology, vaccinated dogs have become vulnerable to infection through contact with leptospira serovars that are not covered by the current vaccine.

Jonathan Horlock from Marches Vets in Leominster, for example, reported a recent case of a fully vaccinated labrador who died from leptospirosis caused by bratislava infection.

He commented: "This was a well looked after dog who’d had all of its core vaccinations and leptospirosis, plus all its annual boosters, so we are clearly now seeing new strains appearing."

The new vaccine provides immunity against serovars from the four key leptospirosis serogroups seen in Europe, and is to be used in place of current bivalent vaccines.

Nobivac L4 can be administered to puppies from six weeks of age, and a follow up vaccination is required four weeks later. This provides 12 months of protection against the virus.

According to MSD, the vaccine could also reduce the risk of dog-to-dog and dog-to-human transition of the virus, by preventing renal shedding of the infectious leptospires.

An innovative washing and filtering process known as Vaccipure™ was used in the production of the vaccination, to lower the levels of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA).

BSA is a common component in current vaccines as it produces leptospira antigens, but it has been connected with the rare occurrence of adverse allergic reactions to vaccination.

At the recent British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress in April, MSD held a meeting to raise awareness of emerging strains of leptospirosis. Nobivac L4 is now available from wholesalers.