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Enterisol^® SC-54, the first avirulent live vaccine to protect pigs against infection with Salmonella choleraesuis, has many years of safety and success to its name. With a broad range of application methods and ages, and proven effective against Salmonella, it may well be the “perfect vaccine”!

How does it work?

The vaccine is a naturally avirulent Salmonella choleraesuis isolate, developed at Iowa State University. Wild Salmonellae survive well in pig white blood cells, allowing repeated shedding, disease, etc. By growing the vaccine in those same cells, a strain emerged that could not survive — the pig's immune system learned how to kill it. The virulence plasmid of the bacteria was also lost; this part of the bacteria is important for causing disease during infection. Once the pig learns to kill the vaccine strain, it can also kill wild strains.

Only Enterisol^® SC-54 does not have the virulence plasmid. If the other vaccines, which contain the plasmid, gain access to the internal organs of the pig, via accidental misuse, like injection, or vaccination during stress, clinical disease could result from the vaccine strain itself. This gives Enterisol^® SC-54 a critical safety edge.

How is the vaccine given?

Pigs take up the vaccine via oral or intranasal administration. Individual pigs can be vaccinated intranasally. Simple population vaccination via drinking water is the most common application. Pigs as young as one day of age may safely be vaccinated. Other live vaccines must be given to pigs at least three or five weeks of age, and when “no other stresses are present on the pigs.” Those other Salmonella vaccines also have cautionary statements that Enterisol^® SC-54 does not.

Effect against many Salmonella

Pigs are protected after a single dose, as fast as 7 days from vaccination. Pigs vaccinated at a young age and challenged at 240 pounds body weight were significantly protected from this challenge. One dose protects pigs to market!

The effect does not stop with S. choleraesuis. Peer reviewed publications have demonstrated cross protection in vaccinated calves when challenged with S. derby. For food safety purposes, only Enterisol^® SC-54 has a label insert demonstrating reduction of Salmonella species in pigs at slaughter as compared to non-vaccinated pigs. Over 50,000 animals were involved in these Salmonella reduction studies. Independent researchers have confirmed the value of vaccination with Enterisol^® SC-54 to protect pigs and reduce shedding of Salmonella, including S. typhimurium. Even with heavy challenge — infection in over 28% of control pigs - vaccinated pigs had significantly lower colonization levels of less than 8%.

Other vaccines have tried to match this protection. In a recent study, two doses of a competitive live vaccine showed protection in a light challenge. However, when one highly infected group of non-vaccinated pigs was excluded, the protective difference was lost from the study. Even with two doses of vaccine, the competitor had trouble hitting the standard set by Enterisol^® SC-54.

Unmatched performance

Enterisol^® SC-54 can be used safely, and effectively in pigs as young as one day of age. Population vaccination saves labor and stress. Pigs can be protected from deadly S. choleraesuis. Salmonella can be reduced in carcasses, providing packers with a safer food product and improved performance for the producer. Protection confirmed in the lab and in the field. Unmatched!

More information

Fox, et al. Safety and efficacy of an avirulent live Salmonella choleraesuis vaccine for protection of calves against S. dublin infections. AJVR 58 (3):265-271. Mar 1997.

Letellier, et al. Assessment of various treatments to reduce carriage of Salmonella in swine. Can J Vet Res 64: 27-13. 2000

Maes, et al. Evaluation of cross-protection afforded by a Salmonella choleraesuis vaccine against Salmonella infections in pigs under field conditions. Proceedings 4th Salinpork, 2001.