Prevention of oedema disease in weaned piglets by vaccination

Abstract

In order to prove the effect of vaccination against postweaning oedema disease, a trial was performed in a large Croatian pig production unit, with high prevalence of postweaning oedema disease. The trial animals were either vaccinated (group one, n = 275) with a VT2e-toxoid vaccine at 1 week of age (with 12.5 μg inactivated VT2e toxin per pig), and at 3 weeks of age (with 25 μg inactivated VT2e toxin), or were placebo treated (group two, n = 274). Postweaning performance of piglets and serological status against VT2e toxin were evaluated. Vaccination significantly (p < 0.05) affected nursery weight gains (group 1: 302 ± 32 g; group 2: 276 ± 42 g). Mortality revealed significant (p < 0.01) differences between the vaccinated (group 1: 0.5%) and non-vaccinated pigs (group 2: 7.9%); fattening weight gain did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the groups (group 1:741 ± 42 g vs. group 2: 706 ± 44 g). There was a significant rise of serological OD values due to vaccination in the vaccinated animals (p < 0.01).