Prevention of edema disease in pigs by vaccination with verotoxin 2e toxoid

Pigs in 2 herds with persistent problems with post weaning edema disease caused by infection with verotoxin-2e (VT2e)-producing Escherichia coli O139 were treated with a VT2e-toxoid vaccine. Treatment was performed as a randomized blind field trial with parallel treatment and non-vaccinated control groups. In 1 herd, a group of pigs was injected with adjuvant alone. Pigs were vaccinated at 1 and 3 wk of age and weaned at 4 wk of age. The effect of vaccination was measured by average daily weight gain (ADG), mortality due to edema disease within the 1st 4 wk after weaning, and weight at 3-6 mo of age. Pathological and microbiological examinations were performed on all pigs that died during the 1st 4 wk post weaning. Only pigs from which VT2e+, F18+ E. coli O139 was isolated were categorized as "death due to edema disease." The serological response to vaccination was evaluated by an indirect ELISA. Vaccination had a statistically significant effect on the level of antibodies specific for VT2e in both herds. Vaccination resulted in a statistically significant increase in ADG in the nursery period but not in the grower-finishing period. Vaccination had a statistically significant effect on mortality due to edema disease with an odds ratio of 0.039, indicating that there was almost total elimination of mortality due to the disease in the vaccine groups.