How to Use VAXXITEK® HVT + IBD

Because vaccination with VAXXITEK HVT + IBD involves just a single injection, proper handling and administration are critical to ensure successful immunization. Our Vaccination Technologies and Services (VTS) group delivers the vaccine to your site, provides the necessary equipment and supplies, and trains and supports hatchery staff. Here's an overview of the process... 

Cold chain integrity

VAXXITEK HVT + IBD is a frozen vaccine product, so maintaining the cold chain is vital. Our VTS technicians deliver the vaccine ampoules in liquid nitrogen dewars and provide detailed instructions for ongoing storage and handling. Most importantly:

  • Continue storing VAXXITEK HVT + IBD ampoules in liquid nitrogen until ready for use
  • Check liquid nitrogen levels in the dewars daily
  • Store diluent bags separately, at room temperature

Mixing & preparation

VAXXITEK HVT + IBD is supplied in frozen ampoules that each contain 1,000 doses when used in healthy day-old chicks (subcutaneous injection) or 4,000 doses when used in-ovo (at 18-19 days of embryonation). Each ampoule is thawed and added to a bag of diluent in order to reconstitute the vaccine at a rate of 0.05 or 0.1 mL per dose for in-ovo application depending upon the technology, and at a rate of 0.2 mL per dose for subcutaneous injection at one day of age. We also provide an optional blue dye, which can be added to the diluent mixture to help monitor quality of subcutaneous injection. 

Our VTS team provides all necessary supplies—from the vaccine, diluent, and dye, to disposable equipment, instructional mixing mats, and more—to ensure the process goes smoothly. 

You'll also find complete mixing, preparation, and administration instructions in the product label.

Hatchery administration: procedures and dosing

Once the vaccine-diluent mixture is prepared, it should be used within one hour. Injection machinery should be set to deliver the following quantities of the vaccine-diluent mixture: 

  •  In-ovo (18-19 days): 0.05 ml or 0.1 mL per egg
  • Subcutaneous: 0.2 ml per healthy day-old chick

Our VTS group develops innovative vaccination machinery for both types of hatchery administration, and will adjust settings and provide ongoing equipment maintenance.

Precautions & guidelines

  • At all steps of the process, follow good sanitation, sterilization, and biosecurity practices
  • Use protective equipment, especially when handling liquid nitrogen
  • Work quickly, with an awareness of temperature issues, but also carefully
  • Do not vaccinate broiler birds with VAXXITEK HVT + IBD within 21 days of slaughter
  • Do not vaccinate diseased embryonated eggs or diseased birds

And remember: contact your Merial VTS associate at any time if you need assistance using VAXXITEK HVT + IBD—we're committed to your vaccination success.

Administer this frozen vaccine either in-ovo (at 18-19 days) or subcutaneously to healthy day-old chicks...

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Referenced Publications

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1. Fernandez R, Rojo F, Garcia H, Sanchez P, Martinez H, Menendez A, Ruiz H et al. Field efficacy in broiler chickens in Latin America of vHVT-013, a Marek’s HVT vector vaccine expressing VP2 in infectious bursal disease virus. Oral presentation and abstract at the 15th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, 2007; p199.

2. Atienza JC, Nagera AJ, Martinez PO, Baysac ND, Castillo MT, Damaso VR, Lemière S. Evaluation of a herpesvirus of turkey vector vaccine inducing protection against infectious bursal and Marek’s diseases (VAXXITEK® HVT+IBD) under Philippines field conditions. Oral presentation. XXIII World Poultry Congress, Brisbane, Australia. 2008. Article wpc0801684, 9 p.

3. Garritty AT. The eff ect of vectored HVT+IBD (Vaxxitek® HVT + IBD) vaccination on body weights, uniformity and virus shedding in commercial broilers. Abstract. International Poultry Scientifi c Forum, Atlanta, 2011; p31.

4. Godinho E, Pereira CJ, Fernandez A, Lemiere S. Case study of broiler chicken carcass condemnation in Brazil – Improved control using a herpesvirus turkey-infectious bursal disease (HVT-IBD) vector vaccine. Oral presentation. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011.

5. Hoerr FJ. Clinical Aspects of Immunosuppression in Poultry. Avian Dis., 2010; 54:2-15.

6. Naqi S, Thompson G, Bauman B, Mohammed H. The Exacerbating Effect of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Infection on the Infectious Bursal Disease Virus-Induced Suppression of Opsonization by Escherichia coli Antibody in Chickens. Avian Dis., 2001; 45:52-60.

7. Alonso Castro M, Merino Cabria D, Fernandez Garcia D, Torrubia Diaz J, Herreras Viejo R, Fernandez Revuelta J, Mateo Oyague J, Carvajal Uruena A. Evaluation of the effects of vaccination with a HVT-IBD vector vaccine on bursa Fabricii, production parameters and meat properties in broilers. Abstract. XVIIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Nantes, France, 2013; in-press.

8. Devaud I, Herin JB, Trotel A, Pagot E, Voisin F. A field study in commercial layers to evaluate the effects of an HVT-IBD vector vaccine on production performances in comparison with a live IBD vaccine. Abstract. XVIIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Nantes, France, 2013; in-press.

9. Lemiere S, Gauthier J.C., Kodjo A., Vinit L., Delvecchio A., Prandini F. Evaluation of the Protection against Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) Challenge in Progeny Born to Parents Having Received a Vaccination Program Using Herpesvirus of Turkey-Infectious Bursal Disease (HVT-IBD) Vector Vaccine. World J. Vaccines, 2013; 3:46-51.

10. Goutebroze S, Curet M, Jay ML, Roux C, Le Gros F-X. Efficacy of a recombinant vaccine HVT-VP2 against Gumboro disease in the presence of maternal antibodies. British Poultry Science, 2003;44:824-825.

11. Massi P, Tosi G, Fiorentini L. Experimental challenge trial with a «very virulent» strain of Infectious Bursal Disease virus (vvIBDV) in commercial pullets vaccinated with an IBD vectored vaccine or with three different modified live vaccines. Zootecnica International, November 2008;50-57.

12. Bublot M, Pritchard N, Le Gros F-X, Goutebroze S. Use of a vectored vaccine against infectious bursal disease of chickens in the face of high-titred maternally derived antibody. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 2007;137:81-84.

13. Ganapathy K, Wilkins M, Forrester A, Jones RC, Lemiere S. Protection and immune responses against virulent infectious bronchitis viruses in HVT-IBD recombinant or IBD-complex vaccinated broiler chicks. Abstract. 1st International Respiratory Disease Conference, Athens, United States of America, 2011; p15.

14. Lemiere S, Wilkins M, Forrester A, Jones R, Ganapathy K. Protection and immune responses against virulent infectious bronchitis (IB) viruses in herpesvirus turkey-infectious bursal disease (HVT-IBD) vaccinated broiler chicks. Poster presentation. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011.

15. Rautenschlein S, Lemiere S, Prandini F. Evaluation of the effects of an HVT-IBD vector vaccine on the immune system of layer pullets in comparison with two commercial live IBD vaccines. Abstract. XVIIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Nantes, France, 2013; in-press.

16. Rosenberger JK, Cloud SS. Identification and characterization of variant infectious bursal disease variant viruses. Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association, 1986;189:357.

17. Cheville NF. Studies on the pathogenesis of Gumboro disease in the bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus of the chicken. American Journal of Pathology, 1967;51:527-551.

18. Le Gros F-X, Dancer A, Giacomini C, Pizzoni L, Bublot M, Graziani M, Prandini F. Field efficacy trial of a novel HVT-IBD vector vaccine for 1 day-old broilers. Vaccine, 2009;27:592-596.

19. Prandini F, Bublot M, Le Gros F-X, Dancer A, Pizzoni L, Lamichhane C. Assessment of the immune response in broilers and pullets using two ELISA lits after in ovo or day-old vaccination with a vectored HVT+IBD vaccine (VAXXITEK HVT+IBD). Zootecnica International, September 2008;40-50.

20. Lemiere S, Wong YS, Saint-Gerand AL, Goutebroze S, le Gros FX. Compatibility of Turkey Herpesvirus–Infectious Bursal Disease Vector Vaccine with Marek’s Disease Rispens Vaccine Injected into Day-Old Pullets. Avian Dis., 2011; 55:113-118.

21. Richard-Mazet A, Goutebroze S, Duboeuf M, Le Gros FX, Lemiere S, Bublot M. Compatibility of fowlpox-avian influenza and herpesvirus of turkey-infectious bursal disease vector vaccines injected in ovo to embryonated chicken eggs. Article. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011; p852-857.

22. Jay ML, Bizzini S, Duboeuf M, Goutebroze S, Le-Gros FX. Compatibility of a novel vector vaccine HVT-Gumboro with Newcastle and infectious bronchitis vaccination at one day of age. Abstract. 16th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009; p341.

23. Lemiere S, Fernandez R, Pritchard N, Cruz-Coy J, Rojo F, Wong SY, Saint-Gerand AL, Gauthier JC, Perozo F. Concomitant Turkey Herpesvirus–Infectious Bursal Disease Vector Vaccine and Oil-Adjuvanted Inactivated Newcastle Disease Vaccine Administration: Consequences Compatibility of Turkey Herpesvirus–Infectious Bursal Disease. Avian Dis., 2011; 55:642-649.

24. Botero LA, Fernandez R, Rojo F, Orrego JC, Lemiere S. Colombian chicken meat industry performance further to the use of VAXXITEK HVT+IBD vector vaccine. Oral presentation. 16th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009; p169.

25. Körösi L, Povazsan J, Penzes L, Sari I. Field results of VAXXITEK HVT+IBD vaccination in coloured birds in Hungary. Poster. 16th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009; p339.

26. Tang SF, He SJ, Li WM, Lemiere S. Field experience of vaccination in day-old broiler chickens with a herpesvirus turkey-infectious bursal disease (HVT-IBD) vector vaccine in different systems of chicken production across China. Poster presentation. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011; p920-926.

27. Herrmann A, Negm H, Sultan H. Turkey herpesvirus infectious bursal disease (HVT-IBD) vector vaccine – Field experience in commercial broilers in Egypt. Article. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011; p556-563.

28. Ochoa R. Monitoring of safety and efficacy of a herpesvirus turkey-infectious bursal disease (HVT-IBD) in a commercial layer operation in Mexico. Article. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011; p770-774.

29. Korosi L, Povazsan J, Sari I, Penzes L. Comparative field study of the Vaxxitek® HVT-IBD vaccine in commercial layer flocks. Article. XVIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Cancun, Mexico, 2011; p644-650.

30. Lemiere S, Rojo R, He S, Tang S, Li W, Herrmann A, Prandini F. Benefits of the Herpesvirus of Turkey vector vaccine of Infectious Bursal Disease in control of immune-depression in broilers and decrease of use of antibiotic medication. Abstract. XVIIIth Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Nantes, France, 2013; in-press.

31. Rautenschlein S, Lemiere S, Simon B, Prandini F. A comparison of the effects on the humoral and cell-mediated immunity between an HVT-IBD vector vaccine and an IBDV immune complex vaccine after in ovo vaccination of commercial broilers. Article. XVIIth Congress of the World Vet.

32. Lemiere S, Bublot M, de Saint-Vis B, Le-Gros FX, Dancer A, Bollart A, Carlotti A. Validation of VAXXITEK HVT+IBD vaccine intake in chickens using vHVT13-specifi c qPCR by processing different tissue samples. Oral presentation. 16th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009; p165.

33. Rautenschlein S, Simon B, Jung A, Pöppel M, Prandini F, Lemiere S. Protective efficacy of VAXXITEK HVT + IBD in commercial layers and broilers against challenge with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus. 16th congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009.