Study Shows Maternal Antibodies Do Not Interfere with Ingelvac CircoFLEX Immunization
The question of maternal antibody interference in pigs vaccinated against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a frequent one. Basically, the question is: How young can pigs be vaccinated? “Some people feel high maternal antibody titers will interfere with active immunization,” notes Edgar Diaz, a DVM with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
In a paper presented at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., FLEX Symposium in March 2008, Diaz presented several new studies addressing maternal immunity.
One field trial involved piglets vaccinated at about 3 weeks of age with Ingelvac CircoFLEX® vaccine. Pigs were divided into high antibody titer (greater than 1:1000) and low titer (less than 1:1000) based on the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Titration (IFAT) test the day of vaccination.
Average daily gain of pigs with a high titer at vaccination was not significantly different than that of pigs in the low titer group. According to Diaz, this means maternal antibodies did not affect the efficacy of the vaccine in maintaining pig performance.Vaccinated pigs also showed a significant improvement in gain over nonvaccinated pigs.
A second study looked at the efficacy of vaccination with Ingelvac CircoFLEX in piglets either born to PCV2 vaccinated or nonvaccinated sows.
Pigs were randomly assigned to either receive vaccine or not receive vaccine at 3 weeks of age. There were four treatment groups: vaccinated dams/vaccinated pigs; non-vaccinated dams/ vaccinated pigs; vaccinated dams/nonvaccinated pigs; and non-vaccinated dams/ non-vaccinated pigs. Pigs were weighed at 3 (weaning), 10 and 22 weeks of age.
Once again, no maternal interference was observed. Vaccinated pigs from vaccinated sows performed similarly to those from nonvaccinated sows. Vaccinated pigs weighed significantly more than non-vaccinated pigs, regardless of sow vaccination status.