Pharmacotherapeutic group: Immunologicals for Suidae, inactivated bacterial vaccines. ATC vet code: QI09AB08.
The active immunisation of pregnant sows and gilts induces the formation of antibodies against the alpha, beta1 and beta2 toxins of C. perfringens types A and C and against E. coli fimbrial adhesins F4ab, F4ac, F5 and F6. The piglets are then passively immunised by the uptake of colostrum that contains those specific antibodies.
Efficacy of the vaccine has been demonstrated upon intraperitoneal challenge with a combination of alpha and beta2 toxins from C. perfringens type A. This toxin pattern is representative for the majority of C. perfringens type A isolates in the field associated with neonatal enteritis. Both toxins have been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis.