Induction of mucosal immune responses and protection against enteric viruses: rotavirus infection of gnotobiotic pigs as a model

Enteric viruses are a major cause of diarrhea in animals and humans. Among them, rotaviruses are one of the most important causes of diarrhea in young animals and human infants. A lack of understanding of mechanisms to induce intestinal immunity and the correlates of protective immunity in neonates has impaired development of safe and effective vaccines against enteric viruses. Studies of candidate vaccines using an adult mouse model of subclinical enteric viral infections often do not predict vaccine efficacy against disease evaluated in neonatal large animals. A series of studies have been conducted using a neonatal gnotobiotic pig model of rotavirus infection and diarrhea to identify correlates of protective immunity and to evaluate traditional and novel vaccine approaches for the induction of mucosal immune responses and protection to enteric viruses. Gnotobiotic pigs recovered from infection with virulent Wa human rotavirus (HRV) (mimic natural infection) had high numbers of intestinal IgA rotavirus-specific primary antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) and memory B-cells (to recall antigen) measured by ELISPOT assay, which correlated with complete protection against rotavirus challenge. Most short-term IgA memory B-cells were resident in the ileum, the major site of rotavirus replication. Spleen, not the bone marrow, was the major resident site for longer-term IgG memory B-cells. Candidate rotavirus vaccines evaluated in pigs for their ability to induce intestinal or systemic ASC and protection against rotavirus infection and diarrhea included attenuated live virus, inactivated virus, and baculovirus-expressed double-layered rotavirus-like particles (2/6-VLPs). In combination with those candidate vaccines, various adjuvants, delivery systems, and immunization routes were tested, including incomplete Freund's adjuvant for i.m. immunization, and a mutant Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin R192G (mLT) for i.n. immunization. It was shown that orally administered replicating vaccines were most effective for priming for intestinal IgA ASC and memory B-cell responses, but i.n. administered non-replicating 2/6-VLPs plus mLT were effective as booster vaccines. We conclude that protective immunity depends on the magnitude, location, viral protein-specificity, and isotype of the antibody responses induced by vaccination. Therefore highly effective enteric viral vaccines should: (i) induce sufficient levels of intestinal IgA antibodies; (ii) include viral antigens that induce neutralizing antibodies; and (iii) require the use of effective mucosal adjuvants or antigen delivery systems for non-replicating oral or i.n. vaccines.     

Vaccination of pigs against Aujeszky's disease by the intradermal route using live attenuated and inactivated virus vaccines

A study was undertaken of the protection induced by inactivated and live Aujeszky's disease virus vaccines. The vaccines were administered using a special device which, without the use of a needle, delivered the preparation intradermally. The trials were performed on 88 pigs which were vaccinated at the beginning of the fattening period both in experimental conditions and in pig herds. All the pigs were challenged at the end of the fattening period in isolation units. The results obtained were compared with those obtained using the same vaccines injected intramuscularly. It was shown that vaccination via the intradermal route induced good protection in the vaccinated animals and was similar to that conferred by live virus vaccine injected intramuscularly. The results, with the inactivated virus vaccine, were not so good when it was injected via the intradermal route. Studies with intradermal vaccination showed no local lesion or very small nodules strictly localized to the dermis. The results also confirmed that the effects of challenge exposure depended on the health status of animals prior to infection and show the necessity to use a synthetic value (delta G) to interpret the data and mainly to compare the results objectively. In fattening pigs this vaccination procedure is attractive because (i) less animal constraint is needed than would be for intramuscular injections, (ii) injection can be checked by the presence of a visible papula at the site of inoculation and, (iii) pigs can be vaccinated in the ham while they are feeding. Injection without a needle also contributes to avoiding bacterial contamination under practical farm conditions of vaccination.     

猪捷申病毒Swine/CH/IMH/03株免疫原性的研究

为确定猪捷申病毒(Porcine Teschovirus,PTV)Swine/CH/IMH/03株免疫原性,本研究将该PTV分离株灭活后分别与氢氧化铝佐剂和Montanide ISA 50V2佐剂混合,制成油佐剂疫苗,并采用不同免疫程序接种实验猪后对病毒抗体进行检测。抗体检测结果表明:PTV Swine/CH/IMH/03分离株能够诱导实验动物产生较高抗体水平,并显著高于对照组;与氢氧化铝佐剂混合制成的佐剂疫苗免疫效果优于Montanide ISA 50V2佐剂;而且一次免疫组与二次免疫组没有明显差异。通过PTV Swine/CH/IMH/03株免疫原性的研究,为后续猪捷申病的预防工作提供技术支持。     

猪瘟病毒-猪圆环病毒2型疫苗联合免疫效果的评价

为建立一种既有效又简便的猪瘟和猪圆环病毒病疫苗联合免疫方法,通过细胞感染试验和动物免疫试验,评价了猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)灭活疫苗和猪瘟病毒(CSFV)冻干活疫苗联合免疫的可行性.通过细胞感染试验证明了PCV2灭活疫苗稀释CSFV冻干活疫苗不影响CSFV疫苗的病毒活性;将PCV2灭活疫苗稀释的CSFV冻干活疫苗免疫试...     

Clinical evaluation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus vaccines and vaccination procedures for inducing lactogenic immunity in sows

Two federally licensed attenuated live transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus vaccines (an IM vaccine and an oral-IM vaccine) and 1 nonlicensed nonattenuated live TGE virus vaccine were evaluated and compared in sows free of TGE virus-neutralizing antibodies. Litters from the sows were challenge exposed at 3 and 5 days of age, and results were combined according to the vaccine administered to the sows. The survivability of pigs suckling sows vaccinated with the nonattenuated vaccine was significantly (P less than 0.01) greater than that of pigs suckling sows vaccinated with the IM attenuated vaccine, significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of pigs suckling sows vaccinated with the oral-IM attenuated vaccine, and significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than that of pigs suckling sows that had not been vaccinated. The differences, however, between survivability of litters from sows vaccinated with the IM attenuated vaccine or the oral-IM attenuated vaccine and that of litters from the sows not vaccinated were not significant (P greater than 0.10). The nonattenuated TGE vaccine, although giving a higher level of protection than the attenuated vaccine, was eventually overwhelmed. Dexamethasone did not increase the incidence of diarrhea, and levamisole did not potentiate the lactogenic immunity in sows after given their first dose of the nonattenuated vaccine. Survivability in litters suckling sows that developed diarrhea after given their first dose of the nonattenuated vaccine was not greater than that in litters suckling sows that did not develop diarrhea. The best results were obtained when 3-day-old suckling pigs were challenge exposed with virulent TGE virus.     

一株变异型猪流行性腹泻病毒的分离鉴定及其灭活疫苗的免疫效力试验

本研究旨在分离猪流行性腹泻病毒（porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV）变异株,通过悬浮培养工艺制备成高效价的PEDV灭活疫苗。2017年从中国多个规模化猪场采集腹泻病死仔猪的小肠及其内容物200份,通过RT-PCR方法进行PEDV检测并测序,筛选一株PEDV变异株,将其在2 L反应器里悬浮培养的Vero细胞上进行病毒分离与传代培养,收获的病毒液鉴定后测定TCID₅₀,经甲醛灭活后加入氢氧化铝胶佐剂配制成PEDV灭活疫苗,对其物理性状、稳定性、黏度、无菌等进行检验,检验合格后免疫妊娠母猪及所产仔猪,对其安全性和免疫效力进行研究。结果显示,200份病料中有86份为PEDV阳性,将筛选的PEDV变异株病料在Vero细胞上传至第5代时出现细胞病变,传至第10代收获病毒液,经鉴定后确定为PEDV变异毒株,并命名为PEDV-GF10株。收获的病毒液浓缩后测得病毒滴度可达1×10^8.0 TCID₅₀/mL。疫苗检验合格后在母猪产前40和25 d时试验组后海穴肌内注射4 mL疫苗,空白组不免疫,结果显示试验组与空白组母猪的生产情况无明显差异,所产3日龄仔猪分别免疫不同剂量后体温无显著差异,表明该疫苗对母猪和仔猪均安全性良好。随机挑选试验组与空白组母猪所产3日龄仔猪各20头,分别口服4 mL PEDV-F10病毒培养物,空白组母猪所产仔猪在攻毒24 h后PEDV发病率为100%,抗体均为阴性;试验组母猪所产仔猪只有10%出现了轻微的腹泻症状,仔猪获得了高达90%保护率,且仔猪被动免疫后抗体能持续至35 d以上。以上结果表明,PEDV-GF10变异株通过悬浮细胞培养后病毒滴度显著提高,研制的PEDV-GF10株灭活疫苗安全有效,能够对中国的PEDV变异株达到有效防控,为国内PED防控提供了理论依据。     

SEROLOGICAL RESPONSES IN PIGS VACCINATED WITH INACTIVATED PORCINE PARVOVIRUS

The safety and immunogenicity of inactivated porcine parvovirus (PPV) vaccines were investigated. Both beta-propiolactone and formalin successfully inactivated virus without destroying immunogenicity, which was considerably enhanced by incorporation of a gel adjuvant in the vaccine. Using the formalised-gel vaccine, initial antibody responses were demonstrated in susceptible piglets and adult pigs at 7 days after vaccination. These antibody responses persist at significant levels for at least 6 months after vaccination. Antibody levels increased up to 16 fold when revaccination was carried out. Vaccination of gilts with low level (passive) immunity resulted in antibody responses comparable to those recorded in susceptible pigs. The vaccine was safe as determined by absence of residual virus in the vaccine, absence of viraemia and excretion in vaccinted stock, and absence of effect on litters of sows vaccinated at different gestational ages. Vaccine stored at 4 degrees C for 6 months was as immunogenic as fresh vaccine.     

Immunologic responses and reproductive outcomes following exposure to wild-type or attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in swine under field conditions

OBJECTIVE: To compare immunologic responses and reproductive outcomes in sows housed under field conditions following controlled exposure to a wild-type strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV strain WTV) or vaccination with a modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 30 PRRSV-na?ve 10-week-old female pigs. PROCEDURE: Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were monitored while pigs were held in isolation for 84 days after inoculation with the WTV strain (n = 10), inoculation with the WTV strain and 42 days later vaccination with a killed-virus vaccine (10), or vaccination with an MLV vaccine (10). Reproductive outcomes were measured after pigs were released into the farm herd. RESULTS: Inoculation with the WTV strain, regardless of whether a killed-virus vaccine was subsequently administered, elicited faster and more substantial production of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies, as well as a more rapid generation of interferon-gamma secreting cells, than did vaccination with the MLV vaccine. Despite the enhanced immune responses in pigs inoculated with the WTV strain, animals vaccinated with the MLV vaccine produced a mean of 2.45 more pigs than did sows exposed to the WTV strain, mainly because of a lower rate for failure to conceive. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that current assays of immunity to PRRSV correlate only imperfectly with degree of clinical protection and that the practice of controlled exposure of sows to a circulating PRRSV strain should be reconsidered in light of negative clinical outcomes.     

Isolation and Identification of a Variant Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and the Immune Efficacy of Its Inactivated Vaccine

This study was aimed to isolate a mutant strain of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and prepare a PEDV inactivated vaccine with high valence by suspension culture process for immunizing against PEDV effectively in China.200 small intestines and theirs contents of diarrhea piglets died of diarrhea,collected from many large-scale pig farms in China,were detected by RT-PCR and sequenced,a mutant strain of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus was selected and put on the suspension-cultured Vero cells in a 2 L reactor for virus isolation and continuous cell culture,the harvested virus suspension,which was identified and determined TCID₅₀,was inactivated by formaldehyde and mixed with aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant to prepare PEDV inactivated vaccine.After its physical behavior,stability viscosity,sterility test were checked out,the safety and immune efficacy were studied by immunizing the pregnant pigs and theirs piglets.The results were as follows:86 samples were detected positive in 200 samples,cytopathy occurred after the mutant strain samples screened were passaged to 5th generation,the virus suspension was harvested in 10th generation and identified as a mutant strain of PEDV,named PEDV-GF10 strain.The virus titer of harvested virus suspension was measured up to 1×10^8.0 TCID₅₀/mL after concentrated.After the vaccine was checked out,the sows,40 and 25 days before delivery in experimental groups,were injected into Xuehai acupoint with 4 mL vaccine and the pigs in blank group were free of immunifications.The results showed that there were no obvious differences in the production status of the sows in experimental groups and blank group and the temperature of theirs 3-day-old healthy piglets injected different doses of vaccine,and the vaccine was safe to the sows and piglets.Forty 3-day-old piglets producted by pregnant sows in experimental groups and blank group were randomly selected and taken 4 mL 1×10^8.0TCID₅₀/mL F10 virus culture.The PEDV morbidity of piglets in blank group was 100% after injection and the antibodies were negative;10% piglets in blank group had mild diarrhea symptoms,the protection rate was up to 90%,antibody of passive immunity in piglets lasted for more than 35 days.Virus titer of mutant strain of PEDV-GF10 improved a lot by suspension cell culture,the PEDV-GF10 inactivated vaccine was safe,and could effectively prevent and control the variation strain of PEDV in China.     

Evaluation in swine of a subunit vaccine against pseudorabies

A subunit vaccine against pseudorabies virus (PRV) was prepared by treating a mixture of pelleted virions and infected cells with the nonionic detergent Nonidet P-40 and emulsifying the extracted proteins incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Three 7-week-old pigs without antibodies against PRV were given 2 IM doses of this vaccine 3 weeks apart. Thirty days after the 2nd vaccination, 10(6) median tissue culture infective doses (TCID50) of a virulent strain of PRV were administered intranasally. Tonsillar and nasal swabs were collected daily between 2 and 10 days after challenge exposure. The pigs vaccinated with the subunit vaccine were not found to shed virulent PRV. Two groups of five 7-week-old pigs vaccinated with commercially available vaccines, either live-modified or inactivated virus, and subsequently exposed to 10(6) TCID50 of virulent PRV, shed virulent virus for up to 8 days. The subunit vaccine induced significantly higher virus-neutralizing antibody titers than either the live-modified or inactivated virus vaccine.     

Laboratory trials with inactivated vaccines against Escherichia coli (O2:K1) infection in fowls.

Laboratory trials were carried out with an O2:K1 vaccine prepared with either the Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. Both types of vaccine administered subcutaneously were highly effective against a challenge with the vaccine strain within three to four weeks after vaccination at two to three weeks of age. The complete adjuvant vaccine was more effective than the incomplete adjuvant vaccine when administered to chickens of an earlier age, and in the rate of development and duration of immunity. The efficacy of both vaccines was unimpaired by their incorporation with the Newcastle disease oil adjuvant (inactivated) vaccine (Newcadin). The use of an oil adjuvant vaccine was not found to affect the rate of growth adversely or to produce any other reaction prejudicial to its commerical application. The efficacy of the vaccines was unimpaired by their incorporation with Newcastle disease oil adjuvant (inactivated) vaccine (Newcadin) thus demonstrating the possibility of producing a combined Escherichia coli/Newcastle disease virus vaccine.     

Failure of protection and enhanced pneumonia with a US H1N2 swine influenza virus in pigs vaccinated with an inactivated classical swine H1N1 vaccine

Two US swine influenza virus (SIV) isolates, A/Swine/Iowa/15/1930 H1N1 (IA30) and A/Swine/Minnesota/00194/2003 H1N2 (MN03), were evaluated in an in vivo vaccination and challenge model. Inactivated vaccines were prepared from each isolate and used to immunize conventional pigs, followed by challenge with homologous or heterologous virus. Both inactivated vaccines provided complete protection against homologous challenge. However, the IA30 vaccine failed to protect against the heterologous MN03 challenge. Three of the nine pigs in this group had substantially greater percentages of lung lesions, suggesting the vaccine potentiated the pneumonia. In contrast, priming with live IA30 virus provided protection from nasal shedding and virus replication in the lung in MN03 challenged pigs. These data indicate that divergent viruses that did not cross-react serologically did not provide complete cross-protection when used in inactivated vaccines against heterologous challenge and may have enhanced disease. In addition, live virus infection conferred protection against heterologous challenge.     

Antibody response of pigs to inactivated monovalent and bivalent vaccines for porcine parvovirus and pseudorabies virus

Groups of pigs vaccinated with an inactivated bivalent vaccine containing porcine parvovirus (PPV) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) developed geometric mean titers (GMT) of humoral antibody for each of the viruses as high or slightly higher than those of other groups of pigs that were vaccinated with inactivated monovalent vaccines containing one or the other of the same viruses. An increase in GMT after challenge exposure of vaccinated pigs to live virus indicated that vaccination did not prevent virus replication. However, an indication that replication was less extensive in vaccinated pigs was provided by the following. Although neither vaccinated nor nonvaccinated (control) pigs had clinical signs after exposure to the live PPV, the effect of vaccination was evident by the fact that GMT were higher in nonvaccinated pigs after exposure than they were in vaccinated pigs. Conversely, all pigs exposed to live PRV had clinical signs, but these signs varied between mild-to-moderate and transient for vaccinated pigs to severe and fatal for nonvaccinated pigs.     

The use of different vaccination schedules for sows to protect piglets against Aujeszky's disease

Several Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) vaccination protocols of sows were evaluated with regard to the passive protection conferred on piglets in a recently built commercial farm. Three different groups of sows were vaccinated using a Bartha K-61 strain. One group received an inactivated vaccine during pregnancy and the other two groups received attenuated vaccines, either during pregnancy (day 65) or on the seventh day of lactation. At farrowing, sows vaccinated during lactation had lower seroneutralization titres than those vaccinated during pregnancy either with inactivated or attenuated vaccines. Accordingly, their piglets were the ones with lower levels of maternally transferred neutralizing antibodies. At 4 weeks of age, five piglets born of each group of sows were challenged intranasally with a neurotropic strain of ADV. Piglets born of sows vaccinated during pregnancy with inactivated and attenuated vaccines gained 1.50 kg bodyweight and 2.50 kg bodyweight during 7 days, respectively, and did not show clinical signs, while piglets from sows vaccinated during the previous lactation lost 0.60 kg and presented moderate to severe clinical signs of ADV. Vaccination of sows during pregnancy provided more protection against ADV for piglets than sow vaccination before mating. Piglets born from sows vaccinated with attenuated or inactivated vaccines did not present remarkable differences on protection.     

三个厂家猪瘟活疫苗免疫效果比较试验

在同一条件下对3个厂家生产的猪瘟细胞源活疫苗进行了免疫效果评价试验,并与猪瘟传代细胞苗免疫效果进行比较。结果发现3个厂家生产的猪瘟细胞源活疫苗存在一定差异,2个厂家的免疫效果较好,1个厂家的免疫效果较差。猪瘟传代细胞苗免疫效果优于猪瘟细胞源活疫苗,猪瘟传代细胞苗免疫1次,抗体合格率高,持续时间长,猪瘟细胞源活疫苗要免疫两次才能获得比较好的效果。同时,我们发现高致病性猪蓝耳病活疫苗（JXA1-R株）对猪瘟抗体产生有一定影响。     

Oronasal challenge of fattening pigs after vaccination with an inactivated Aujeszky's disease vaccine

Groups of pigs from vaccinated and unvaccinated sows were vaccinated once or twice between the ages of eight and 20 weeks with a commercial inactivated, oil adjuvanted Aujeszky's disease virus vaccine. Pigs were challenged by the oronasal route when 22 to 27 weeks old. Pigs from unvaccinated sows developed neutralising antibodies after vaccination but no seroconversion was detected in eight-week-old pigs or in 80 per cent of 15-week-old pigs from vaccinated sows. Challenge resulted in severe disease and weight loss in control pigs. In vaccinated animals the duration and severity of clinical signs and the amount of weight lost decreased with increasing serum neutralisation titres. The results indicate that parenteral vaccination at weaning with the vaccine described will not protect pigs at slaughter age against infection and disease, particularly if they were born from seropositive mothers.     

Antibody responses of guinea-pigs, rabbits and pigs to inactivated porcine parvovirus vaccines

Antibody responses were compared in guinea-pigs, rabbits and pigs following vaccination with inactivated porcine parvovirus (PPV) vaccines. Mean PPV hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers of 52, 56 and 36 at 1 week after first vaccination and 896, 640 and 512 at 2 weeks after second vaccination were detected in guinea-pigs, rabbits and pigs, respectively. PPV vaccines prepared with greater concentrations of virus, as determined by hemagglutination (HA) units, and of aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant, induced higher HI antibody titers in guinea-pigs. Optimal concentrations for inducing consistently high antibody titers consisted of vaccine virus with a HA titer of 256/0.1 ml and gel adjuvant at a final concentration of 50%. A second vaccination at 4 weeks compared to 2 or 3 weeks after first vaccination resulted in higher mean HI titers. These data provide preliminary information on the use of guinea-pigs or rabbits as laboratory animal models for testing the potency of PPV vaccines.     

Vaccine-induced T cell-mediated immunity plays a critical role in early protection against pseudorabies virus (suid herpes virus type 1) infection in pigs

The aim of our study was to evaluate the relative importance of antibody and T cell-mediated immunity in protection against pseudorabies virus (suid herpes virus type 1) infection in pigs. We induced different levels of immune responses by using: (1) a modified live vaccine; (2) the same modified live vaccine with an oil-in-water (o/w) adjuvant; (3) an inactivated vaccine; and (4) the same inactivated vaccine with an o/w adjuvant. Subsequently, we challenged pigs with virulent pseudorabies virus (PRV). We demonstrated that best-protected pigs stood out by maintaining strong T cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses after challenge. Of the immune parameters tested, protection against virus shedding was correlated best with the magnitude of the IFN-gamma response of in vitro re-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with an additional role for PRV-specific IgG2 antibodies. The use of an o/w adjuvant resulted in higher antibody and CMI responses, in particular with an increased frequency of memory T helper blast cells of in vitro re-stimulated PBMC. However, this adjuvant-induced enhancement of the immune response had a limited additional effect on the efficacy of inactivated vaccines. This study suggests a major contribution of the CMI response in early protection against PRV infection and that PRV-induced IFN-gamma responses may serve as a suitable indicator for assessing the immune status of vaccinated pigs.     

Evaluation of killed and modified live porcine rotavirus vaccines in cesarean derived colostrum deprived pigs

Twenty-eight cesarean derived, colostrum deprived (CDCD) piglets were used to evaluate the efficacy of killed and modified live rotavirus (MLV) vaccines against challenge with virulent A-1 and A-2 rotaviruses. Two killed rotavirus vaccines were evaluated: an experimental vaccine and a commercially available vaccine. Efficacy parameters included: average daily weight gains, rotavirus shedding in feces, morbidity incidence and duration, and rotavirus serum antibody conversion post-vaccination and post-challenge. Piglets vaccinated orally/intramuscularly with the modified live vaccine were completely protected from A-1 and A-2 virulent rotavirus challenge. Nonvaccinated control piglets and piglets receiving killed rotavirus vaccines developed diarrhea, shed virus and exhibited reduced weight gains post-challenge. Only the MLV rotavirus vaccine was able to prevent virus shedding in feces after virulent challenge. Both controls and pigs which received killed vaccines intraperitoneally, orally or intramuscularly shed virus in the feces for 7 days post-challenge and virus peak titers approached 10(7) fluorescent antibody infectious dose (FAID)50/g feces. These studies clearly reflected the inability of killed rotavirus vaccines to induce active local immunity to rotaviral diarrhea in piglets.     

Potency of an experimental DNA vaccine against Aujeszky's disease in pigs

Intradermal vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding envelope glycoprotein C (gC) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) conferred protection of pigs against Aujeszky's disease when challenged with strain 75V19, but proved to be inadequate for protection against the highly virulent strain NIA-3. To improve the performance of the DNA vaccine, animals were vaccinated intradermally with a combination of plasmids expressing PrV glycoproteins gB, gC, gD, or gE under control of the major immediate-early promotor/enhancer of human cytomegalovirus. 12.5 microg per plasmid were used per immunization of 5-week old piglets which were injected three times at biweekly intervals. Five out of six animals survived a lethal challenge with strain NIA-3 without exhibiting central nervous signs, whereas all the control animals succumbed to the disease. This result shows the increased protection afforded by administration of the plasmid mixture over vaccination with a gC expressing plasmid alone. A comparative trial was performed using commercially available inactivated and modified-live vaccines and a mixture of plasmids expressing gB, gC, and gD. gE was omitted to conform with current eradication strategies based on gE-deleted vaccines. All six animals vaccinated with the live vaccine survived the lethal NIA-3 challenge without showing severe clinical signs. In contrast, five of six animals immunized with the inactivated vaccine died, as did two non-vaccinated controls. In this test, three of six animals vaccinated with the DNA vaccine survived without severe clinical signs, whereas three succumbed to the disease. Comparing weight reduction and virus excretion, the DNA vaccine also ranged between the inactivated and modified-live vaccines. Thus, administration of DNA constructs expressing different PrV glycoproteins was superior to an adjuvanted inactivated vaccine but less effective than an attenuated live vaccine in protection of pigs against PrV infection. Our data suggest a potential use of DNA vaccination in circumstances which do not allow administration of live attenuated vaccines.