Efficacy of tiamulin against experimentally induced Streptococcus suis type-2 infection in swine

Eighteen 4-week-old pigs were used in a study to evaluate tiamulin in drinking water for control of experimentally induced Streptococcus suis type-2 infection. Pigs in groups A and B (n = 6 pigs/group) were aerosolized with a logarithmic-growth phase culture of S suis type 2, whereas pigs in group C (n = 6 pigs) served as noninfected and nonmedicated controls. After exposure to S suis, pigs in group B were given 180 mg of tiamulin/L of drinking water for 5 days. Pigs in group B consumed more feed (P = 0.009) and gained body weight faster (P = 0.02) than did pigs in group A. Pigs in group A had higher rectal temperature (P = 0.05) for up to 7 days after S suis exposure, higher clinical sign scores (P = 0.008), higher serum cortisol concentration on days 7 and 14, higher gross lesion scores (P = 0.03), and higher microscopic lesion scores (P = 0.01) than did pigs in groups B and C. Gross and microscopic lesions in pigs of groups A and B included meningitis, pneumonia, pleuritis, pericarditis, peritonitis, and synovitis of variable severity. Streptococcus suis type 2 was recovered from tissue specimens of 2 group-A pigs and 1 group-B pig. Data indicated that tiamulin administered via drinking water significantly reduced the effects of S suis type-2 infection.     

Effect of challenge dose and age in experimental infection of pigs with encephalomyocarditis virus

Two experiments were performed to compare the severity of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection in pigs. The pigs were challenged with the Greek myocardial strain, at different ages and with different doses. In the first experiment, nineteen susceptible pigs, 40 days old, were divided into three groups and were experimentally infected with 10(6) TCID(50), 10(4) TCID(50) or 10(2) TCID(50) of the Greek EMCV strain. In the second experiment, 10 susceptible pigs, of either 20 or 105 days, were divided into two groups according to age and were experimentally infected with 10(6) TCID(50) of the Greek EMCV strain. In addition, five piglets, each one the same age as its experimental group, were used as uninfected controls. No clinical signs were observed after infection, except a transient temperature rise in some pigs. Another important observation was the difference in mortality between groups. The survival rate of the 40-day-old pigs was inversely related to the viral dose. In these pigs, a positive association between the viral dose and the severity of macroscopical and histopathological lesions of the heart was also evident. Viral isolations from various organs of the challenged 40-day-old pigs increased with the increasing dose level. When challenged with 10(6) TCID(50) of EMCV, there was no difference in the fatality rate of the 20- and 40-day-old pigs, but none of the 105-day-old pigs died. The severity of the macroscopical and the histopathological heart lesions was inversely related to the age of the pigs. Furthermore, viral isolations from the various organs were higher in 20- and 40-day-old pigs than in the older ones. In 40-day-old pigs, neutralizing antibodies linearly increased as the dose increased. These antibodies were consistently lower in 20-day-old pigs. Viraemia, and nasal and faecal excretions were detected in all groups and lasted 1-3 days, except for the 105-day-old pigs whose symptoms lasted for an additional day.     

Dynamics and persistence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in pigs

The purpose of this study was to describe the dynamics (shedding and transmission) of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection within a population of swine and to determine the duration of the infection (persistence) through the identification of the agent in bronchial samples. Sixty-three 2-month-old pigs were used in this study. The pigs (n = 28) were experimentally infected by the intratracheal route with M. hyopneumoniae and considered as seeder pigs. The remaining pigs (n = 32) were not inoculated and randomly allocated to 2 different groups: direct contact exposure pigs (n = 12) and indirect contact exposure pigs (n = 20). Blood samples and nasal swabs were collected throughout the study on days 0, 28, 35, 42, 49, 63, 91, and 119 postinfection. To assess the duration of M. hyopneumoniae infection, 9 seeder and 6 contact exposure pigs were slaughtered at days 155 (group 1), 170 (group 2), and 185 (group 3) postinfection. Direct contact pigs showed evidence of infection on day 28 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and on day 35 by serology. The indirect contact exposure pigs presented a very delayed and slow seroconversion pattern; they did not present evidence of transmission until 42 d after the infection of seeder pigs. Identification of M. hyopneumoniae in bronchial swabs was confirmed by nested-PCR from days 155 to 185 postinfection. At the last slaughter date, 77.7% and 100% of the seeders and contact exposure pigs, respectively, tested positive. The results of this study reconfirmed direct infection of M. hyopneumoniae and suggest that indirect transmission can occur in a population. Finally, duration of the infection in this study was longer than previously described.     

Reproduction of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs by prenatal porcine circovirus 2 infection and postnatal porcine parvovirus infection or immunostimulation

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was reproduced in prenatally porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2)-infected pigs by either postnatal infection with porcine parvovirus (PPV) or by immunostimulation. Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 sows, which had been experimentally infected during gestation with PCV2, were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 1 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal PPV infection), group 2 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal keyhole limpet hemocyanin, emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant [KLH/ICFA] injection), and group 3 (prenatal PCV2 infection only). Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 uninfected sows were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 4 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 and PPV infection), group 5 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 infection), and group 6 (negative control pigs). Body weight in negative control pigs (group 6) was increased significantly compared with pigs in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 49, 52, 56, 59, and 63 days of age. The granulomatous inflammatory reaction and lymphoid depletion that are typical lesions in pigs with PMWS were observed in the lymph node of piglets in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 63 days of age. Pigs in group 3 had significantly fewer PCV2-positive cells than those from groups 1, 2, 4, or 5. When the prenatally PCV2-infected pigs were infected with PPV or injected with immunostimulant in the postnatal period, they developed PMWS. Thus, factors that potentiate the progression of prenatal PCV2 infection to PMWS are postnatal infection with PPV or immune stimulation.     

An experimentally induced Chlamydia suis infection in pigs results in severe lung function disorders and pulmonary inflammation

This study was aimed at evaluating the pathophysiology of pulmonary dysfunctions and inflammatory consequences of an acute respiratory chlamydial infection induced experimentally in conventionally raised pigs (aged 39-44 days). Eight animals were exposed to Chlamydia suis (C. suis) and four non-infected animals served as controls. The total observation period was from seven days before challenge to seven days post exposure. While non-infected control pigs did not exhibit any clinical symptoms, animals exposed to C. suis developed fever and were severely respiratory distressed within the first week after exposure. After C. suis infection, pulmonary dysfunctions were characterised by a significant decrease in the diffusion capacity of the lung (i.e. transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide; TL CO), a significant increase in the functional residual capacity (FRC), and significant changes in the pattern of ventilation (respiratory rate increased while the tidal volume decreased). In exhaled breath condensate (EBC), leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) showed a tendency to increase after infection. In the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of C. suis infected pigs, the activity of matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) was found to be increased compared to controls. BALF cytology was characterised by increased numbers of granulocytes and activated lymphocytes. Pulmonary inflammation in infected pigs was confirmed by post mortem histology. A prominent dissemination of chlamydial bodies in the lung was accompanied by an influx of macrophages, granulocytes and activated T-cells. Data obtained in this study provide new insight into the pathogenesis of acute respiratory chlamydial infections in pigs.     

Experimental infection of pigs with different doses of the African swine fever virus Armenia 07 strain by intramuscular injection and direct contact

We experimentally infected pigs with the African swine fever virus (ASFV) Armenia 07 strain (genotype II) to analyze the effect of different dose injections on clinical manifestations, virus-shedding patterns, histopathology, and transmission dynamics by direct contact. Each three pigs and four pigs were injected intramuscularly with 0.1 fifty percent hemadsorbing doses (HAD₅₀)/ml, 10¹ HAD₅₀/ml and 10⁶ HAD₅₀/ml of ASFV Armenia 07 strain, respectively. Each two of three pigs injected with 0.1 HAD₅₀/ml and 10¹ HAD₅₀/ml died by 10 days post inoculation. All pigs had a gross lesion of splenomegaly. Perigastric and renal lymph nodes were enlarged and resembled blood clots in nine of ten pigs. It was revealed that 0.1 HAD₅₀/ml of this ASFV was sufficient to infect healthy pigs by intramuscular injection and caused sub-acute lethal disease. For the transmission study, two 8-week-old pigs were injected intramuscularly with 10³ HAD₅₀/ml of the same virus. Each of the experimentally inoculated pigs was co-housed with two 8-week-old naive pigs. All contact pigs exhibited clinical manifestations at 6 or 7 days after the experimentally inoculated pigs developed pyrexia. These findings suggest that this strain may spread slowly within a herd. Histologically, lymph nodes resembled blood clots were formed by severe blood absorption and followed hemorrhage result of disruption of the lymphoid sinus filling with absorbed red blood cells. The severity of the gross and histological lesions depended on duration after infection, regardless of the difference of injection doses in this study.     

Effect of mebendazole on hydatid cysts in pigs

Mebendazole given per os was found to be effective against larval Echinococcus granulosus infection in pigs. Twenty-four pigs were experimentally inoculated with adult E. granulosus tapeworms. Mebendazole (40 mg/kg) or placebo was injected into six pigs 2 months after infection. Seven other pigs were given mebendazole (25 mg/kg) in their feed for 10 days twice (2 and 5 months after infection). Post-mortem examination performed 8 months after infection revealed that two of the pigs treated with mebendazole per os had a single hydatid cyst each; the other five pigs were free of infection. All eleven control untreated pigs were infected with between two and 21 cysts of E. granulosus.Mebendazole given intraperitoneally was not effective as mebendazole given per os in preventing the development of hydatid cysts in pigs.     

抗独特型抗体对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒感染的免疫作用

用PRRSV感染SPF猪，血清检测结果显示，机体不仅产生抗PRRSV抗原的各种抗体(Ab1)，而且产生针对这些抗体的抗独特型抗体(Ab2)。根据各种蛋白质的等电点不同，应用IEF技术分离纯化出PRRSV感染猪血清中的不同IgG。分别以纯化的抗PRRSV—GP5蛋白、抗PRRSV-M蛋白的Ab2免疫SPF猪各5头，7d后经鼻腔感染PRRSV，定期采集血样进行病毒分离或鉴定试验。抗PRRSV-GP5蛋白的Ab2免疫的猪，其血样自感染后3～7d均检出PRRSV；3头猪在感染后14～63d未检出PRRSV；2头猪在感染后14～35d检出PRRSV，从42～56d转为阴性，其中1头猪在63d时检出PRRSV。抗PRRSV—M蛋白的Ab2免疫的猪，其血样自感染后3～7d均检出PRRSV；2头猪在感染后14～63d未检出PRRSV；3头猪在感染后14～35d检出PRRSV，从42～56d转为阴性，其中1头猪在63d时检出PRRSV。抗PRRSV—GP5和抗PRRSV—M蛋白的Ab2免疫作用显著，可作为PRRSV-GP5和PRRSV—M蛋白的替代抗原产生具有中和效应的抗体，保护机体免受PRRSV的感染。     

An experimental infection to investigate the indirect transmission of classical swine fever virus by excretions of infected pigs

In this experiment transmission of classical swine fever (CSF) virus via excretions of infected pigs was investigated under experimental conditions. Five pairs of pigs were experimentally infected with CSF virus. Eight days after experimental infection, when all pigs were viraemic for at least 3 days, the pens were depopulated and 20 h later, restocked with five pairs of susceptible pigs which stayed in these pens for 35 days. During the first 3 weeks of the experiment, the pens were neither cleaned nor disinfected. During the observation period, none of the susceptible pigs became infected. This result indicates that CSF virus spread via excretions is of minor importance in the early stages of infection. For extrapolation of these findings to the field situation and to increase the validity of the conclusions further research is needed to evaluate the effect of factors like virus strain, interval, ..., that may influence the outcome of the experiment.     

Infection dynamics of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in a continuous-flow population of pigs also infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Twenty-eight 10-week-old pigs were inoculated intratracheally with 1 x 10(5) colour-changing units/ml Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain 232, and another 32 pigs were not inoculated but were divided into 12 direct-contact pigs and 20 indirect-contact pigs. Thirty-five days later, the inoculated pigs were inoculated intranasally with 1 x 10(2.4) tcid50 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strain mn 30-100. Viraemia, seroconversion and the transmission of PRRSV in the M hyopneumoniae-infected pigs were then assessed for four months. Three groups of 10 age-matched gilts were introduced as sentinels into the experimental barn on days 28, 56 and 84 after the PRRSV infection. The persistence of PRRSV was evaluated in both the experimentally and naturally infected pigs, which were slaughtered 120, 135 and 150 days after the infection. The period of viraemia and the extent of seroconversion were similar to those observed in studies of pigs infected only with PRRSV, suggesting that under the conditions of the study M hyopneumoniae did not affect these features of the disease. A delayed pattern in the seroconversion and proportion of pcr-positive pigs was observed in the direct and indirect contact groups, and the persistence of PRRSV in tissues was confirmed by pcr at 120 and 150 days after infection only in the directly inoculated pigs and not in the direct- or indirect-contact groups of pigs.     

Lack of an effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) experimentally infected conventional pigs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the clinical and pathological outcome of PCV2 experimentally infected 8 to 9-week-old conventional pigs. Forty-four pigs were divided into four groups: non-infected control pigs, pigs that received a vaccine adjuvant, pigs inoculated with PCV2, and pigs inoculated with PCV2 together with the vaccine adjuvant. Infection was monitored until 69 days post-inoculation (PI). Some PCV2 inoculated pigs had hyperthermia, but no other clinical signs were recorded. No characteristic PMWS gross or microscopic lesions were observed in any of the pigs. PCV2 DNA was detected in lymphoid tissues by in situ hybridisation in 6 PCV2 inoculated pigs on day 69 PI. All PCV2 inoculated pigs seroconverted between days 21 and 49 PI, shortly after viremia detection. Moreover, viremia was detected between days 7 and 69 PI using PCR. A peak of the virus load was detected by real-time quantitative PCR between days 14 and 21 PI. There were no significant differences in the proportion of PCV2 positive serum and in the viral load between PCV2 and PCV2 + adjuvant inoculated pigs. Although PMWS was not reproduced in neither PCV2 nor PCV2 + adjuvant inoculated pigs, viremia detection and seroconversion indicated that all PCV2 inoculated pigs developed a chronic long-term asymptomatic infection. An increase of PCV2 replication was not observed in pigs inoculated with the adjuvant. These results indicate that the principle of immunostimulation may not be applicable under the experimental conditions used, suggesting that not all adjuvants used in commercial vaccines are capable of triggering mechanisms for PMWS development.     

Detection of pseudorabies virus infection in subunit-vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs using a nucleocapsid-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The potential of a pseudorabies virus (PRV) nucleocapsid protein (NC)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening assay for PRV infection in subunit-vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs was studied. The NC-ELISA compared favorably to a commercial ELISA for detecting PRV infection in nonvaccinated pigs. Virus-specific antibody was first detected by the NC-ELISA between days 14 and 21 in 5 pigs challenged intranasally with 10(4) PFU of virus. Antibody continued to be detected in these pigs through day 42, when the experiment was terminated. The NC-ELISA also detected antibody in 23 of 24 pigs from PRV-infected herds. In contrast, the commercial ELISA detected antibody 1 week earlier than the NC-ELISA in experimentally infected pigs but failed to detect antibody in 3 naturally exposed pigs that were identified by the NC-ELISA. Infection in these animals was confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation analysis. The potential usefulness of the NC-ELISA for detecting infection in vaccinated pigs was also evaluated. The nucleocapsid-specific antibody responses of 10 PRV envelope glycoprotein subunit-vaccinated pigs were monitored prior to and following nasal exposure to a low dose (10(2.3) PFU) of PRV. Sera were collected periodically for 113 days after infection. Nucleocapsid-specific antibody responses measured by the NC-ELISA remained below the positive threshold before challenge but increased dramatically following virus exposure. Maximum ELISA responses were obtained on day 32 postchallenge (p.c.). Mean ELISA responses decreased thereafter but remained well above the positive threshold on day 113 p.c. PRV nucleocapsid protein can be used effectively as antigen in the ELISA for detecting PRV infection in both nonvaccinated and subunit-vaccinated pigs.     

An assessment of the duration of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in an experimentally infected population of pigs

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) is the primary pathogen of enzootic pneumonia (EP), a highly prevalent respiratory disease that affects pigs worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that M. hyopneumoniae infection can be longer than 185 days; however, the total duration of infection has not been determined yet. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the duration of M. hyopneumoniae infection in asymptomatic carriers. To achieve our goal, 60 pigs were inoculated with M. hyopneumoniae strain 232 and the persistence of M. hyopneumoniae in the respiratory tract was assessed by detection of the bacterial DNA in bronchial swabs and the ability of the infected pigs to transmit the pathogen to sentinels. Infection of the inoculated animals was demonstrated by the detection of M. hyopneumoniae DNA in nasal swabs, seroconversion to the bacteria and the onset of dry coughing. Experimentally infected pigs shed M. hyopneumoniae prior to and after the cough was observed. M. hyopneumoniae DNA was detected in 100% of experimentally infected pigs at 94 days post infection (dpi), 61% at 214dpi and 0% at 254dpi. Experimentally infected pigs transmitted the bacteria to sentinels at 80 and 200dpi. Results of this study have demonstrated that M. hyopneumoniae infected pigs can be incubatory as well as convalescent carriers of the pathogen and that convalescent carriers can remain infectious for up to 200 days. Total clearance of M. hyopneumoniae in the group was evidenced, demonstrating that duration of M. hyopneumoniae infection lasts less than 254 days.     

Effect of fenbendazole and pyrantel tartrate on the induction of protective immunity in pigs naturally or experimentally infected with Ascaris suum

An experiment was conducted with 96 weanling pigs (avg initial wt 18.5 kg) divided into six treatment with two replicates of eight pigs each. Pigs in Treatments 1, 2 and 3 were penned in outside pens with dirt lots that previously were contaminated with A. suum ova to induce a natural ascaris infection. Pigs in Treatments 4, 5 and 6 were penned in an open-front building with solid concrete floors and were experimentally infected with 2,000 embryonated A. suum. ova on d 1, 15 and 29 of the experiment. Pigs in Treatments 1 and 4 were medicated with fenbendazole (FBZ, 3 mg/[kg BW.d]) for three consecutive days during three consecutive time periods. Pigs in Treatments 2 and 5 were medicated with pyrantel tartrate (PT, 106 mg/kg feed) for 28 d. Pigs in Treatments 3 and 6 served as infected, unmedicated controls. All pigs were challenged with 100 A. suum eggs 7 d after termination of the final FBZ treatment. All pigs were killed 66 d after challenge and worms were recovered. Fenbendazole treatment resulted in greater (P less than .07) average daily gain than PT treatment in pigs penned outside. Among inside pigs, FBZ treatment resulted in better (P less than .02) feed utilization than in controls. The FBZ and PT treatments reduced (P less than .03) the total number of A. suum, the length and weight of female ascarids and the length of male ascarids compared with controls. A natural continual infection with A. suum was less effective than experimental infection in inducing protective immunity in pigs.     

Indirect hemagglutination for Eperythrozoon suis detection in experimentally and spontaneously infected swine

Ten splenectomized and non-splenectomized pigs were experimentally infected with E. suis bearing red blood cells in order to determine the antibody response. All animals were monitored for antibody titer by indirect hemagglutination over a period of 80-290 days postinfection. Latent E. suis infection only yielded a detectable antibody titer in one pig. Acutely infected pigs had a titer ranging up to 1:640. Maximum antibody response lasted only 2 months and dropped below the level of detection of our assay within 2 to 3 months. At this time, the clinical symptoms could reappear and antibodies were again detectable. However, no booster effect was observed with this second outbreak. We also determined the antibody frequency in 138 pigs from 16 herds in Southern Germany. Pigs from only 4 out of 6 clinically positive herds had antibody titer against E. suis. 20 out of 78 pigs of the clinical positive herds demonstrated a detectable E. suis antibody titer. In 10 herds that were asymptomatic and presumed uninfected all 80 pigs were serologically negative for E. suis.     

Isolation of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from different sampling sites in experimentally infected and contact SPF piglets

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal route of infection and the optimal sampling sites for the recovery of M. hyopneumoniae, the etiological agent of enzootic porcine pneumonia. Virulence of two strains, BQ 14 and 116, isolated in France in 1975 and 2003, respectively, was also compared. Groups of specific pathogen free piglets were experimentally infected by the intratracheal or intranasal route. One non-inoculated pig was placed in each group of infected pigs to study direct transmission. Two groups were kept uninfected. Coughing was recorded daily. Blood samples, nasal, tonsillar and tracheal swabs and tracheobronchiolar washings were collected weekly. Pigs were killed 27-37 days post-infection. Lung lesions were scored and swabs were collected from nasal cavities, tonsils, trachea, lung, liver and spleen. All the samples, collected from live and dead pigs, were cultured for M. hyopneumoniae recovery. Results showed that both experimentally infected pigs and contact pigs developed enzootic pneumonia, whatever the route of infection and the strain tested. Direct contact transmission occurred quickly. No difference between the two routes of infection or between the two strains tested was evidenced, but high individual variations were observed between pigs. Tracheal swabs and tracheobronchiolar washings were the most effective samples to detect M. hyopneumoniae compared to nasal or tonsillar swabs. Our results also suggested that tracheobronchiolar washings could have an influence on the lesion extent observed at necropsy. M. hyopneumoniae could be re-isolated from liver and spleen of experimentally infected pigs and contact pigs.     

Strongyloides ransomi: prenatal and transmammary infection of pigs of sequential litters from dams experimentally exposed as weanlings.

Prenatal infection of pigs with Strongyloides ransomi occurred in 12% of 104 pigs and in 14% of 21 litters farrowed by 13 sows experimentally exposed to infective larvae as weanlings. Transmammary passage was observed in 38 of 39 litters studied. Milk samples obtained from 14 sows showed that larvae were usually shed in the colostrum within 24 hours after farrowing; however, larvae were recovered from samples of milk of sows up to 20 days after parturition. Larvae were recovered from milk samples obtained after each parturition up to the fourth. Prenatal infection in pigs was not detected after the 1st litter.     

Infection of pigs by Aujeszky's disease virus via the breath of intranasally inoculated pigs

Aujeszky's disease is a worldwide problem in the pig industry. In this experiment, four pigs chosen to act as shedder pigs were intranasally infected with Aujeszky's disease virus. Next, on three consecutive days, eight recipient pigs were exposed to the breath of a pair of shedder pigs via a mask-to-mask module. Except for the virtual absence of CNS signs, shedder pigs expressed clinical signs that were similar to pigs infected naturally or experimentally. Only mild respiratory signs occurred in recipient pigs, but all were infected by aerosols of Aujeszky's disease virus as evidenced by seroconversion. The pig is a much more sensitive indicator of airborne virions than our aerosol collection methods. We conclude that the mild respiratory disease acquired by the aerogenous route in recipient pigs is an easily managed model for studying the transmission of airborne respiratory infections and the immune responses to this type of infection.     

Primary infection protects pigs against re-infection with Lawsonia intracellularis in experimental challenge studies

In two separate trials pigs were experimentally infected with Lawsonia intracellularis at 5-6 weeks of age followed by antibiotic treatment and resolution of the primary infection and then re-inoculated at 12-13 weeks of age. A treatment-control group of pigs received the primary infection and antibiotic treatment only, and served as control for the antibiotic treatment of the primary infection. A challenge-control group of pigs received the second inoculation dose only at 12-13 weeks of age to control infectivity of the challenge-dose and susceptibility of pigs to L. intracellularis at this age. Pigs were monitored for shedding of L. intracellularis in faeces by PCR, and for the development of antibodies and responses of acute phase proteins in serum. The presence of L. intracellularis antigen in the intestinal mucosa was examined in post mortem samples by immunohistochemistry. In both trials primary infected pigs were protected from infection after challenge inoculation as evidenced by absence of faecal shedding of L. intracellularis, lack of changes in acute phase protein concentrations after challenge and with low levels of bacterial antigen in the intestinal mucosa of re-inoculated pigs comparable to that of the treatment-control pigs. In contrast, challenge-control pigs shed L. intracellularis in faeces, had L. intracellularis antigen extensively present within all layers of the intestinal mucosa and developed a significant acute phase protein response in serum after the experimental infection. The acute phase protein response to L. intracellularis infection was detected as an increased rise in the serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and haptoglobin from day-6 post infection, and increased serum concentrations of haptoglobin were generally seen 2-3 weeks after inoculation both at 5-6 and 12-13 weeks of age. In conclusion substantial protection against L. intracellularis infection was found in the re-inoculated pigs in contrast to the development of infection in age-matched control pigs. The acute phase protein responses reflected both the observed protection against L. intracellularis infection upon secondary challenge and that increased resistance to the infection develops with age.     

猪囊虫病基因工程疫苗用于免疫治疗的研究

应用猪囊虫病基因工程疫苗分别对实验性猪囊虫病和自然感染的猪囊虫病进行了分组治疗,以探讨该疫苗的免疫治疗作用。１０头人工复制的囊虫病猪,随机分成３组。第１组４头猪,于感染于１个月注射该疫苗,连续３次,间隔１５天;第２组４头猪,于感染后２个月注射疫苗,同上连续３次;第３组２头猪,不注苗。第１组注射疫苗后１个月循环抗原滴度开始降低,２．０、２．５及３．５个月各有１头猪ＣＡ转阴,５个月ＯＤ值分别为０．１４、０．０９、０．１７、０．３８。第２组和第３组各猪血清ＯＤ值一直维持在１．０以上。感染后５个月剖检,第１组４头猪均未检出囊虫;第２组４头猪在咬肌、膈肌、腰肌、股内侧肌、肩胛外侧肌等部位均检测到囊虫,检测部位４０ｃｍ＾２面积发现囊虫３～７个,有部分虫体已钙化,胆汁卵化率为１５．４％;第３组各猪也在各检测部位检测到囊虫,４