Evant

Evant is available as a suspension and solvent and can only be obtained with a prescription. The vaccine is given to chicks from one day old. The vaccine suspension should be diluted with the solvent and water according to dosing instructions and sprayed on the birds so that each bird receives one dose. The birds ingest the vaccine when preening their feathers. Protection starts at 2 weeks after vaccination and lasts until 9 weeks after vaccination.

For more information about using Evant, see the package leaflet or contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.

Evant is a vaccine. Vaccines work by ‘teaching’ the immune system (the body’s natural defences) how to defend itself against a disease. The vaccine contains the oocysts of Eimeria species that have been weakened so that they cannot cause disease. When Evant is given to chickens, the animals’ immune system recognises the Eimeria oocysts as foreign and makes defences against them. In the future if the animals are exposed to the same Eimeria species the immune system will be able to respond more quickly. This will help protect against coccidiosis.

The vaccine solvent contains the adjuvant montanide IMS to enhance the immune response.

Laboratory studies have shown that 1-day-old chicks vaccinated with Evant were protected against coccidiosis when exposed to each of the five Eimeria species at 2 weeks after vaccination and protection lasted 9 weeks after vaccination. These studies had a control group of chicks that received a dummy vaccination. The studies showed Evant reduced damage to the gut and oocysts in the faeces for each Eimeria species and that it reduced diarrhoea caused by Emeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella.

There are no known side effects with Evant. For the full list of restrictions, see the package leaflet.

Safety information has been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet for Evant, including the appropriate precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and animal owners or keepers.

Hands and equipment should be washed and disinfected after use.

The withdrawal period is the time required after administration of a medicine before an animal can be slaughtered and the meat used for human consumption. It is also the time required after administration of a medicine before eggs may be used for human consumption.

The withdrawal period for meat and eggs from chickens treated with Evant is ‘zero’ days, which means that there is no mandatory waiting time.

The European Medicines Agency decided that Evant’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.

Evant received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 5 February 2019.