Smart choices against Erysipelas
Because Erysipelas has been a challenge in pork production for so long, many vaccines and antiserums have been developed. Until recently, though, many of them only provided short term protection against the disease. Often, multiple vaccinations were needed to provide protection to get pigs to market. Newer technologies with adjuvants and vaccine production have proven the ability for single vaccinations, when properly timed, to protect pigs through market weights.
When to vaccinate?
Maternal immunity to Ery provides both benefit and challenge. Maternal immunity is highly protective against infection. However it also may impair the ability of vaccines to stimulate a long term protective response. As most pigs are becoming negative between six and eight weeks of age, vaccination should be delayed until this age or later. Some vaccines may have a faster onset of immunity, and may be more flexible in timing vaccination. Conventional two dose vaccines are less forgiving in timing, and may need a month or more to provide the desired protection.
Duration of protection vital
The protection against challenge over time, known as Duration of Immunity (DOI), is vital for products against Ery. Given the desire to vaccinate pigs at or before placement to finishing, and the likelihood of breaks in market weight pigs, protection to market is a key factor to evaluate. Not all products have the same DOI, and some have not proven they can protect pigs beyond the initial challenge, often three to four weeks after vaccination. Be sure to check the label for the approved DOI statements.
Protection against what?
The second question to ask is how strong was the DOI challenge. Were control pigs, those that did not get the vaccine, barely affected? Did the vaccine have to stand up to a strong challenge, or just get past a weak one? The challenge model used by Boehringer Ingelheim stands out as a high virulence challenge. Mortality in control pigs consistently runs 50% or greater, in pigs at market weights. In contrast, other challenge models stimulate clinical signs in controls, but rarely any mortality. This weak challenge may allow a vaccine with weaker protection to get by. However, in the field, pigs may be at risk when a significant challenge hits market pigs. It is this level of strong challenge that documents the high level of protection against Ery, and assures producers their pigs receive the best protection against Erysipelas all the way to harvest.
More information
Sick F, et al. Administration of a single oral dose of vaccine provides at least 18 weeks duration of immunity as an aid in the prevention and control of Erysipelas. Proc Am Assn Swine Vet Conv. 2002. www.aasv.com
Sick F, et al. Duration of immunity against Erysipelas of a single dose Haemophilus parasuis/Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae combination vaccine (Ingelvac
Application
Keys to selection
Several key questions can help you decide which vaccine may be right for you.
Conventional two dose vaccines
Require two doses. May or may not have demonstrated DOI. Most oral vaccines may still need two doses if protective DOI cannot be demonstrated with one dose.
One dose oral vaccine
Ingelvac
One dose killed vaccine
Ingelvac
The needs of your situation should dictate the right investment in Ery protection. While many bottles say “Ery vaccine”, what's inside is very different!