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last update:Aug 16, 2006
First commercial C. perfringens type A vaccine
Swine
veterinarians created a new vaccine to help to battle diarrhoea associated with
Clostridium perfringens, type A. The vaccine is available under a USDA conditional license for use in
pigs.
The product,
called C. perfringens, type A Toxoid, manufactured by Novartis, should only be
used in swine.
The vaccine
includes a proprietary dual-component adjuvant formulation that plays an
important role in the effectiveness of this vaccine. It is safe for use in
healthy pigs, including bred gilts or sows and feeder pigs.
Development of a
C. perfringens, type A vaccine has been challenging because of the
unpredictable nature of the bacteria.
The bacteria
naturally resides in the swine intestine, but it remains one of the leading
causes of diarrhoea in neonatal pigs.
It is said that
diarrhoea in the first couple days of life can cause lower weaning weights,
which directly affects survival in the nursery and grow/finish phase.
Environmental
factors, including a drafty room or a change in the season, may trigger this
type of infections. In addition to vaccination, pre-farrowing and neonatal
management are critical to keep infection at bay.
Editor PigProgress
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