A newly approved vaccine aims to prevent the highly damaging avian encephalomyelitis disease in broilers, following authorisation from Britain's regulatory body.

Elanco Animal Health has introduced the AviPro AE vaccine to combat this disease, which is also known as epidemic tremors in young broilers or egg drop in adult birds in-lay.

Epidemic tremors in broilers are a serious condition, characterised by symptoms such as nervous disorders, imbalance, and birds sitting on their hocks. Other signs include paralysis and tremors of the head, neck, and wings, potentially resulting in high mortality rates and morbidity ranging from 5-60%.

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In adult birds, the disease can cause a 5-10% drop in egg production, lasting more than two weeks. In breeding stock, hatchability may also decline by 5%, with a risk of vertical transmission to offspring.

James Bishop, a technical consultant at Elanco, notes that despite the severe impact of the disease, there have been few preventive vaccines available in Britain.

"The availability of AviPro AE offers pullet rearers and broiler breeders an alternative solution to a critically important disease, as there is no treatment available once the disease is present." he says.

AviPro AE is administered as a liquid suspension through drinking water during the rearing period and is an integral part of the vaccination program. The vaccine is available by prescription only.