12 April 2026
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) has issued a positive recommendation for the marketing authorization of AviGate S. Infantis. Developed by Huvepharma, this live attenuated vaccine represents the first targeted immunological tool specifically designed to address the growing challenge of Salmonella Infantis in poultry production.
On March 12, 2026, the CVMP adopted a favorable opinion for AviGate S. Infantis, marking a pivotal moment for food safety and poultry health management. Salmonella Infantis has become increasingly prevalent across global poultry chains, often characterized by its persistence in the farm environment and high levels of multi-drug resistance (MDR).
AviGate S. Infantis is a live, attenuated lyophilisate vaccine based on the J-6-24 ∆cpxRA ∆lon1 strain of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, serovar Infantis. The vaccine utilizes specific genetic deletions (∆) to ensure a robust safety profile while maintaining high immunogenicity.
Administration: Delivered via drinking water.
Primary Indication: Indicated for the reduction of fecal excretion and the limitation of internal organ colonization by S. Infantis.
Target Species: Chickens, including broilers, future layers, and future breeders.
Onset of Immunity: 2 weeks post-vaccination.
Duration of Immunity (Broilers): 8 weeks following a single dose.
Duration of Immunity (Layers/Breeders): 30 weeks following the completion of the two-dose primary vaccination schedule.
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) summary of opinion for AviGate S. Infantis (adopted on March 12, 2026), the withdrawal period for this vaccine is:
Meat and offal (Broilers): Zero days.
Eggs: Zero days.
There is a DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) strategy for the AviGate S. Infantis vaccine. Under European Union regulations (specifically Regulation (EC) No 1177/2006), any live Salmonella vaccine used in poultry must be distinguishable from wild-type field strains. Because AviGate S. Infantis is a live attenuated vaccine, the manufacturer has built-in specific genetic "markers" to allow for this differentiation.
The differentiation is primarily achieved through molecular methods (PCR) and potentially through phenotypic markers.
Molecular Differentiation (Genotypic): The vaccine strain (J-6-24 ∆cpxRA ∆lon1) is engineered with two specific genetic deletions:
∆cpxRA: Deletion of the cpxRA operon (involved in stress response and virulence).
∆lon1: Deletion of the lon gene (a protease involved in stress response and protein degradation).
Laboratory application: A diagnostic laboratory can use a specific Real-Time PCR protocol that targets these missing segments. If the PCR identifies the "gaps" in the genome (the deletion zones), the isolate is confirmed as the vaccine strain. If the genes are present, it is a wild-type field strain.
The introduction of AviGate S. Infantis allows for a precision-based approach to salmonella control. By tar