Vaccination plays a key preventative role in maintaining pig health on farms and minimizing economic losses from infectious disease. Various vaccines have been developed over the past few decades to immunize pigs against common viral and bacterial illnesses. This article provides an overview of some of the most widely used porcine vaccines available today.
Common Swine Diseases
There are several notable diseases for which commercially available vaccines exist to help protect pig herds. Among the most prevalent are:
Swine Influenza: Caused by influenza A viruses, swine flu can cause severe respiratory disease in pigs of all ages. Vaccines contain inactivated viral strains that help prevent infection and spread of this highly contagious respiratory pathogen on pig farms.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS): A major concern globally, PRRS virus causes reproductive failure in sows and respiratory disease in young pigs. Modified live and inactivated vaccines aid in disease control and herd stabilization against this economically devastating virus.
Erysipelas: An acute bacterial infection caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae that can result in severe arthritismuscular lesions, and death. Bacterins containing inactivated E. rhusiopathiae bacteria are commercially available and help reduce mortality from erysipelas outbreaks.
Leptospirosis: Caused by pathogenic Leptospira bacteria, leptospirosis can cause reproductive issues, abortions, and kidney damage. Bacterins containing killed leptospires are used to limit renal carriage and shedding of the bacteria in urine.
Porcine Circovirus Diseases (PCVD): Circovirus type 2 is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and other conditions. Circovirus vaccines containing inactivated PCV2 antigens help control virus replication and disease severity.
These are some of the major diseases for which commercially available pig vaccines play an important role in protection and disease control on pig farms.
Available Swine Vaccine Types
Vaccines developed for pigs fall into a few main categories based on their composition and manufacturing methods:
Inactivated/Killed Vaccines: Contain whole bacteria or viruses that have been inactivated or killed using chemicals, heat, or radiation. Unable to cause disease but can still produce protective immunity. Examples include erysipelas and influenza bacterins/virions.
Modified Live Vaccines: Made from attenuated (weakened) live viruses or bacteria that still have the ability to replicate in the host and produce an immune response without causing clinical signs of disease. Examples include PRRSV vaccines.
Subunit Vaccines: Use specific purified antigenic components of the pathogen like viral proteins, rather than whole inactivated organisms. Highly purified PCV2 subunit vaccines are available.
Toxoid Vaccines: Used to immunize against toxins rather than infectious agents. For example, vaccines containing inactivated toxins from Clostridium perfringens protect against necrotic enteritis in pigs.
Combination Vaccines: Different antigen types combined into a single vaccine formulation to provide protection against multiple diseases with one administration. Common combinations target diseases such as porcine circovirus, erysipelas, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.
Understanding the differences between these vaccine classes helps producers choose the optimal products for their pig health management programs and farm needs.
Administration and Storage
Most swine vaccines are administered via intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, often in the neck region, to maximize the immune response. Some circovirus and influenza vaccines can also be given intranasally.
It's critical vaccines are properly stored and handled per manufacturer guidelines. Most require refrigeration between 2-8°C and should not be frozen or overheated, which can negatively impact vaccine stability and potency over time. Once opened, some products like modified live vaccines have short shelf lives of only a few weeks or months. Proper administration techniques and storage are imperative for successful vaccination programs.
Conclusion
A variety of reliable porcine vaccines exist that can play an important preventative role as part of a comprehensive pig health management strategy. With the right combinations targeting primary diseases of concern, vaccination supports pig welfare and profitability on farms by lowering mortality and antibiotic usage while boosting growth performance. Producers should work closely with their veterinarians to design custom vaccination protocols tailored to each operation's unique needs and risk factors. Well-researched products combined with best practices for handling and administration maximize return on investment from vaccination programs.
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