SOMNU-STAR Ph®
One of the costliest health problems facing the cattle industry is bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
Assorted viruses, bacteria and stress all play a role in the BRD syndrome. Even a mild infection with one pathogen can set the stage for another by suppressing the animal’s immune system, making it susceptible to a more serious infection.
BRD can be a problem in nursing calves but most commonly occurs within a few weeks of weaning. Recent research has found that many calves and feedlot animals with BRD are not detected and treated.
- Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica is considered the major cause of BRD in freshly weaned calves.
- Histophilus somni (Haemophilus somnus) is a bacterium that causes a number of clinical syndromes including pneumonia.
BRD increases medication and labour costs, causes lost production, reduced carcass value and death losses.
The potential cost of BRD is much too high to ignore.
Developed at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Somnu-Star Ph® is a bacterial extract – subunit vaccine for cattle and calves that aids in the prevention of pneumonia caused by H. somni and M. haemolytica.
The Somnu-Star Ph vaccine has three key components:
- A bacteria-free suspension of outer membrane proteins extracted from growing cultures of H. somni.
- Surface material extracted from growing cultures of M. haemolytica Type 1A.
- Genetically attenuated leukotoxin of M. haemolytica produced by recombinant DNA technology.
These components are combined with a proprietary adjuvant, VSA-3. Gentamycin is added as a preservative.
Features
Proven flexible, safe and effective
- Somnu-Star Ph can be used on all classes of cattle and calves
- It can be used in pregnant cows to increase colostral antibodies, aiding in the prevention of diseases caused by H. somni and M. haemolytica in baby calves
- Somnu-Star Ph stimulates the formation of antibodies against the bacterial cells of H. somni and M. haemolytica, as well as antitoxin which neutralizes the leukotoxin of M. haemolytica
- A single dose of the M. haemolytica component of the vaccine is enough to confer immunity. A booster vaccination for H. somni should be administered two to six weeks after the initial vaccination.
Directions For Use
A single dose of the M. haemolytica component of the vaccine is enough to confer immunity. A booster vaccination for H. somni should be administered two to six weeks after the initial vaccination.
Annual revaccination of mature animals is recommended. Calves vaccinated prior to six months of age should be revaccinated after six months of age.
For calves destined for a feedlot, the greatest benefit is realized when the first dose is administered two to six weeks prior to feedlot entry.
Presentation
Somnu-Star Ph is available in 10 dose (20 mL) and 50 dose (100 mL) vials.
