[Examination of the compatibility of a Salmonella Typhimurium-live vaccine Salmoporc for three day old suckling piglets].

Abstract

The present study intended to investigate the compatibility of the orally applicated Salmonella Typhimurium live vaccine Salmoporc on day 3 and 21, respectively. Piglets which only received saline solution orally were used as negative control. During eight hours following vaccination, fecal consistency, body temperature as well as body condition were evaluated. Furthermore, in addition to the daily measures of body temperature and body condition, weekly weight controls as well as bacteriological examination referring to the duration of excretion of the vaccine strain, were carried out until the end of the study. Additionally, distribution and persistence of the pathogen in different tissues were examined. Using serological determination of salmonella antibodies, immune response was scrutinised. Oral vaccination resulted in a significant rise of the body temperature.The vaccine strain could be isolated from fecal samples until the 28th day (seven days after the second vaccination). The vaccination strain persisted until six weeks after the second vaccination in organs of the piglets, whereas the last detection was from samples of small and large intestine. Field strains could neither be isolated from fecal nor from organ samples of vaccinated and control group. Until the end of the study, control animals were negative by bacteriological examination of fecal and organic samples. Seroconversion was observed from day seven after the second vaccination. Mean concentration of antibodies was significantly higher in vaccinated than in control animals three weeks after vaccination.