News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
David Butler
Tel: 01694 731777
david@abccomms.co.uk
Subsidised Barren Ewe Blood Test Now Available
MILTON KEYNES, UK, January 2, 2015 – With sheep scanning well underway shepherds with
a flock barren rate greater than two percent can now ask their vet for a subsidised blood test to
establish whether the cause of the problem is toxoplasmosis.
EXPERTIS™ Barren EweCheck – the diagnostic scheme supported by MSD Animal
Health (known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada) – is now available
from vets until 31st March 2015.
Toxoplasmosis is the main infectious cause of early embryo loss in sheep and is a very
common cause of barrenness, abortion and weak lambs born alive. Data from the 2014
EXPERTIS Barren EweCheck scheme showed that 85% of flocks tested had been exposed to
the toxoplasma parasite.
According to MSD Animal Health technical manager, John Atkinson MRCVS, sheep pick
up the toxoplasma parasite from the environment – from contaminated pasture, feed and water,
for example.
“Infected cats shed toxoplasma eggs in their faeces and sheep pick up these eggs as they
eat. The eggs are tough and can survive in the environment for over a year, which means
farmers need to take steps to protect their sheep. The good news is that where toxoplasma
infection has been confirmed in a flock the disease can be controlled effectively by a vaccination
regime. What’s more, the costs of a prevention programme can be easily covered by a
reduction in future flock barren rates,” he says.
EXPERTIS™ is a registered trademark of MSD Animal Health, Summit N.J., USA
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Producers concerned about a high proportion of empty or aborting ewes should talk to
their vet about the service as soon as possible.
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About MSD Animal Health
Today's MSD is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. MSD
Animal Health, known as Merck Animal Health in the United States and Canada, is the global
animal health business unit of MSD. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier
Animals™, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one
of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions
and services. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, wellbeing and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D
resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50
countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit
www.msd-animal-health.com.
MSD forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe
harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of MSD’s management and are
subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks
or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and
competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate
fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the
United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment;
technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent
in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; MSD’s ability to accurately
predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of
international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of MSD patents
and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent
litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
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MSD undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found
in MSD’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).
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