Zoetis Inc. today announced the availability of its FluSure XP® vaccine updated with clusters IV-A and IV-B of the H3N2 subtype. Because influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S) continues to evolve and challenge swine herds, Zoetis has responded by updating FluSure XP to include the most relevant strains found to be circulating in U.S. herds.¹ The updated vaccine is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“We are committed to offering pork producers and swine veterinarians the most relevant solutions as the influenza virus continues to impact sows and pigs across the United States,” said Michael Kuhn, DVM, MBA, Director, U.S. Pork Technical Services, Zoetis. “We’re continuously surveying the ever-changing landscape of IAV-S and aggressively updating our vaccines as needed.”

These new strains were added based on ongoing surveillance with the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The license was granted based on studies demonstrating serologic response as per USDA Veterinary Services Memorandum 800.111 and results from a challenge study using a virulent H3N2 cluster IV-A strain. In this study, protection was demonstrated by reduction of lung lesions, rectal temperature, nasal shedding and viral titer in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at necropsy.²

FluSure XP has been updated to include the following strains offering the most demonstrated, relevant cross-protection for influenza in swine:

• H1N1 Gamma
• H1N2 Delta-1
• H3N2 Cluster-IV-A
• H3N2 Cluster-IV-B

FluSure XP is a killed vaccine that helps protect swine, including pregnant sows and gilts three weeks or older, against respiratory disease caused by swine influenza virus subtypes H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2. FluSure XP is offered in combination with other vaccines, including RespiSure® and RespiSure-ONE®, ER Bac® Plus and FarrowSure® GOLD.

“We’ve seen influenza evolve quite rapidly since 1998 when viruses from different species, including humans and birds, began infecting pigs,” said Dr. Kuhn. “The mixing of genes from different influenza viruses has led to significant changes in how influenza impacts pigs and how the pig’s immune system responds. This is seen even in previously vaccinated animals, particularly if that vaccine did not contain the appropriate subtypes.”

Influenza continues to be a costly virus in U.S. swine herds. An influenza outbreak can cost producers more than $10 per pig in medication costs and performance losses.³ A whole-herd vaccination program that helps protect against the most relevant influenza strains and can lead to more flu-negative pigs at weaning thus reducing risks associated with outbreaks.⁴

For more information on managing influenza in swine or the updated FluSure XP vaccine, contact your local Zoetis representative or visit FluSureXP.com

_{¹ Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Influenza A virus in swine surveillance: fiscal year 2015 quarterly report. Published February 2016. Accessed November 11, 2016. aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/swine/downloads/fy2015quarter4swinereport.pdf
² Data on file, Study Report No. B820R-US-14-436, Zoetis LLC
³ Donovan, T. 2008. Influenza isolate selection methodology for timely autogenous vaccine use. 2008 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference Proceedings. pp 557-562.
⁴ Corzo CA, Gramer M, Kuhn M, et al. Observations regarding influenza A virus shedding in a swine breeding farm after mass vaccination. J Swine Health Prod. 2012; 20(6):283–289.}