Swine fever. Immunisation of piglets

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Immunology
• Virology
• Animal Health

Background:

• Swine fever poses a significant threat to swine populations globally.
• Effective vaccination strategies are crucial for disease control and prevention.
• Understanding maternal immunity transfer is key to optimizing piglet vaccination protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the CL Chinese strain for Swine Fever vaccination in young piglets.
• To investigate the influence of maternal immunity on the immune response and protection duration in vaccinated piglets.
• To determine optimal vaccination timing for piglets based on sow vaccination history.

Main Methods:

• Vaccination of 7-day-old piglets with the CL Chinese strain, with and without maternal immunity.
• Assessment of piglet immunocompetence and safety through simultaneous weaning and vaccination.
• Monitoring of passive protection duration in piglets from immune sows.
• Evaluation of antibody transfer efficiency based on the interval between sow vaccination and farrowing.
• Assessing protection rates and long-term immunity following primary vaccination and booster injections.

Main Results:

• The CL Chinese strain is safe for vaccinating 7-day-old piglets, even when weaned simultaneously.
• Piglets born of non-immune sows demonstrate immunocompetence at 7 days old.
• Passive protection in piglets from immune sows can last over 2 months, dependent on maternal antibody quality.
• Vaccination at 5 weeks is effective in piglets born of sows vaccinated 10 months prior to farrowing, with >80% protection at 6 months.
• A booster injection at 6 months provides immunity for up to 4 years.

Conclusions:

• Early-life vaccination against Swine Fever using the CL Chinese strain is feasible and safe in piglets.
• Maternal immunity significantly influences the duration of passive protection and the optimal timing for active immunization.
• Strategic sow vaccination prior to gestation can enhance piglet immunity and facilitate early-life vaccination protocols.