Reduction of PMWS-associated clinical signs and co-infections by vaccination against PCV2.
The effects of a single-dose recombinant Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) open reading frame 2 (ORF2) subunit vaccine were studied in a post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS)-affected pig herd. A total of 1519 3-week-old piglets were allocated randomly into two treatment groups and either vaccinated against PCV2 or treated with a placebo. Study animals were followed from the time of vaccination until the end of finishing. Onset of PCV2 viraemia and clinical signs of PMWS (wasting, cough, dyspnoea, pallor and lethargy) were observed when animals were approximately 9-10 weeks old. Compared to placebo-treated animals, vaccinated animals had a significantly reduced PCV2 viral load and duration of viraemia (p < 0.0001). This reduction in viraemia was not affected by the level of maternal anti-PCV2 antibodies present at the time of vaccination. During the period of viraemia (10-26 weeks of age) vaccinated animals exhibited a 53% reduction in mortality rate (p = 0.0010), a 4.84 kg higher body weight gain (p < 0.0001) and a significant reduction in clinical signs (p < or = 0.0004). Furthermore, lung samples of vaccinated animals had a considerably reduced number of co-infections with PRRSV and Mycoplasma hyorhinis than lung samples of placebo-treated animals. These data indicate that vaccination against PCV2 alone protects pigs from clinical signs and co-infections associated with PMWS.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Corporate R&D, Binger Str. 176, 55216 Ingelheim, Germany.
Marion
M
Kixmöller
Matthias
M
Ritzmann
Matthias
M
Eddicks
Armin
A
Saalmüller
Knut
K
Elbers
Vicky
V
Fachinger
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017925:Circovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000517:prevention & control; D053609:Lethargy / Q000517:prevention & control; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D045790:Mycoplasma hyorhinis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010167:Pallor / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053570:Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013552:Swine; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000517:prevention & control
D010919:Placebos; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines