1. What are autogenous vaccines
  2. Sample Collection
  3. Sending

Autogenous or herd vaccines are inactivated immunological veterinary products produced from pathogenic microorganisms isolated from samples of a sick or dead animal, and intended to be used in the protection of that  animal or animals from the same farm.
 
The efficacy of this type of vaccines is directly related to its specificity, i.e. the fact that they are produced with the pathogenic strains found in samples from the farm.
 
These vaccines can be produced for several animal species such as sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry and pets.
 
Generally the first vaccination is made with two administrations, being the second one administered about three weeks after the first application. The secondary response induced by that is a greater antibody production and “immune memory", which allows a cytotoxic cell response. Re-vaccination should be made annually, favouring the period preceding the season of greatest risk for the pathology.
 
The use of immunological medicines is more economic and contributes for the reduction of antibiotics administration and bacterial resistance.

Only with a sample with good quality is possible to make a good bacterial identification.
 
The samples should be collected before the beginning of any treatment or, at least 5 days after administration of antibiotics. The sample must be collected as soon as possible after the animal death and before decomposition processes begin.
 
The samples should be collected respecting aseptic rules and using sterile material (gloves, instruments, etc.).
 
Liquids or tissues should be collected from organs that present lesions, trying to include the zone between affected/not affected tissue.
 
The samples should be sent in sterile containers.

The samples must be send chilled, and as soon as possible (Express Mail service or by carrier delivery in less than 24 hours).
 
The samples must be accompanied by a request form that must contain the following information:

• Name, address and phone (email) of the veterinarian;
• Name and address of the farmer;
• Description of the samples collected;
• Description of symptoms, clinical signs, suspicion and animal species;
• Number of vaccine doses required;
• Data for billing and shipping of the vaccine;
• Date and signature of the veterinarian.

Send the samples to:
Laboratório Sorológico – Produtos Veterinários Lda.
AC.: Dra. Nélia Fernandes
Rua Henrique Paiva Couceiro nº27
Venda Nova
2700-451 Amadora
Portugal
Tel.: +351 21 499 74 80
Fax: +351 21 499 19 01