title: Reduced use of antimicrobials after vaccination of pigs against porcine proliferative enteropathy in a Danish SPF herd.
abstract: The present study explored whether the use of group medication with antibiotics in a Danish pig herd was reduced after vaccination of the pigs against proliferative enteropathy (PE) caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. 7900 pigs originating from a single commercial sow herd were vaccinated against L. intracellularis, whereas 7756 pigs were kept as non-vaccinated controls. The pigs were included batch-wise in the study with every second batch being vaccinated. In the vaccinated batches, the consumption of oxytetracykline to treat PE was reduced by 79%, with a significantly lower number of pigs being treated (P < 0.0001). Vaccination also resulted in a highly significant improvement of average daily weight gain (+ 46 g/day; P = 9.55 x 10(-31)) and carcase weight (+ 1.25 kg; P = 4.54 x 10(-05)) as well as a shortened fattening period (-8 days; P = 2.01 x 10(-45)).
authors.affiliation: Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica, Strødamvej 52, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. hba@cop.boehringer-ingelheim.com
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Poul Henning
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rathkjen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight; D045824:Desulfovibrionaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D020639:Lawsonia Bacteria / Q000502:physiology; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D010118:Oxytetracycline