Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: the sensitivities of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detecting vaccinated sows of unknown disease status using serum and colostrum, and the correlation of the results for sow serum, colostrum, and piglet serum.

Due to relatively high concentrations of immunoglobulins, colostrum has the potential to improve the sensitivity of diagnostic tests for diseases in pigs when compared with serum. It is possible that colostrum could improve the sensitivity of the antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) compared with serum. Colostrum is also essential for piglets, providing protection against infections in the first few weeks and months of life. The sensitivity of 2 commercially available ELISAs, one for the detection of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and the second for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antibodies, when used with sow colostrum in comparison with serum was investigated. The correlation of maternal E. rhusiopathiae- and M. hyopneumoniae-specific antibody levels with specific-antibody serum levels in the piglet was also determined. The sensitivity was defined as the proportion of vaccinated sows that were correctly identified as vaccinated at a given cutoff point. The true disease status of the sows with regard to the 2 infections was unknown. Blood and colostrum samples were collected from 20 sows, 10 primiparous and 10 multiparous, and blood samples were also collected from the piglets of each sow, 48-72 hr post-farrowing. The sensitivities of both ELISAs were significantly improved when using colostrum compared with serum. Sow serum and colostrum optical density (OD) values were significantly correlated. The mean sow OD values for serum for E. rhusiopathiae and M. hyopneumoniae and colostrum for E. rhusiopathiae were significantly correlated with piglet serum OD levels. If the improved sensitivity of colostrum can be demonstrated in infected animals, this will increase the ability of the test to identify infected animals using both individual and pooled colostrum. Testing serum and/or colostrum using ELISA can be useful predictors of piglet disease-specific OD values.

Efficiency of Echinacea purpurea on performance and immune status in pigs.

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the inclusion of the dried herb Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH as feed additive in diets of sows, piglets, and grower/finisher pigs on growth performance, blood picture, plasma enzymes including proliferation of lymphocytes, antibody status, and protein and immune globulin content of colostrum. The control groups were supplemented with alfalfa meal. The sows (total 36) received 0%, 1.2%, or 3.6% Echinacea cobs in the diet from day 85 to day 110 of gestation and 0%, 0.5%, or 1.5% Echinacea cobs up to day 28 of lactation. No significant differences were found for growth performance, weight loss, blood picture, plasma enzymes, and colostrum composition. Performance of the sucking piglets was not impaired either during lactation or during a 4 week observation period after weaning. The health status was similar in all treatment groups. In a second experiment, lasting 6 weeks, with 36 piglets (5.8-22.1 kg body weight), 1.8% Echinacea cobs, or 20 mg/kg feed Flavomycin were supplemented. No significant differences were found for the recorded parameters. Feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg gain) of the Echinacea group was slightly (4%) increased (1.54 vs. 1.60). In a third trial, 48 grower/finisher pigs were used during a 9-week experimental period with two supplementation phases (weeks 1-3 and weeks 7-9). The experimental groups received 0%, 1.5% cobs or 4-6 ml pressed juice (commercial standard) per day respectively. Vaccination with Swine erysipelas was implemented in weeks 1 and 5 to determine the specific immune response. Growth performance and blood picture for all groups were similar, however, feed conversion of both Echinacea supplemented groups was significantly (p < 0.03) better than of the unsupplemented control group (2.44 vs. 2.51). In addition, the Swine erysipelas antibodies showed a marked significance (p < 0.05) in regard of altitude in both supplemented groups. It is concluded, that E. purpurea might be used as a feed additive to achieve immune stimulating efficiency in pig production and increase feed-to-gain-conversion. The efficiency of cobs is comparable to a commercial juice product.

Ginseng extract in aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted vaccines improves the antibody response of pigs to porcine parvovirus and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

Ginseng, the dry extract prepared from the Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer-root contain immunomodulators named ginsenosides, which in the pig enhance the antibody response to viral and bacterial antigens. The enhancing effect of ginseng was demonstrated vaccinating pigs against porcine parvovirus (PPV) and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infections, using commercially available vaccines. The potency of the licensed, aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted; vaccines were compared with those supplemented with ginseng. The antibody response to PPV was measured by the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test whereas the mouse potency test and ELISA evaluated the immune response to E. rhusiopathiae. Antibodies to the 64-66 kDa glycoprotein of the E. rhusiopathiae were demonstrated by immunoblotting. The qualitative antibody responses were evaluated by means of ELISA(s) using monoclonal antibodies to swine IgG1 and IgG2. The addition of 2mg ginseng per vaccine dose, potentiate the antibody response of the commercial vaccines without altering their safety. Significantly higher (P<0.001) antibody titres were achieved to both PPV and to E. rhusiopathiae by the supplementation with ginseng. Aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted vaccines favoured the production of IgG1 antibodies. Interestingly, the vaccines supplemented with ginseng favoured IgG2. The vaccines used in the evaluations varied in their immunogenic potency. However, after the addition of ginseng the less immunogenic vaccine proved to be as potent as the better one without ginseng. Thus, the use of ginseng as a co-adjuvant provides a simple, safe and cheap alternative for improving the potency of aluminium hydroxide adjuvanted vaccines.

[The development of a technology for the production of live dried vaccines against avian pasteurellosis and swine erysipelas]. / Razrabotka tekhnologii proizvodstva zhivykh sukhikh vaktsin protiv pasterelleza ptits i rozhi svinei.

The technology of the production of dried live vaccine against Pasteurella infection of fowl from Pasteur's 2nd avirulent strain, strains AB and K, has been developed. This technology includes the process of batch cultivation of Pasteurella cells, controlled in such parameters as eH, pO2 and glucose concentration, in fermenters in optimized culture medium, based on Hottinger hydrolysate and fermentative casein-yeast hydrolysate, and preservation in improved saccharose-gelatin medium prepared in potassium sulfate buffer solution. The new technology makes it possible to increase the yield of preparations with stable biological activity 5- to 13-fold in comparison with the traditional technology. Furthermore, the technology of the production of live dried vaccine against swine erysipelas from Erysipelothrix insidiosa strain BP-2 has been developed. This technology is based on maintaining the optimum conditions of the batch cultivation of E. insidiosa in meat medium based on Hottinger hydrolysate and media obtained from hydrolysate of pancreatic fermentation products of microbial biomass; the preparation thus obtained is stabilized in peptone-saccharose-gelatin medium prepared in potassium phosphate buffer solution. This increases the yield of the vaccine 8-fold in comparison with the traditional technology, while ensuring the stability of bacteria after drying and during prolonged storage.

[Resorption of colostral gamma-globulins and detection of antibodies to Bact. rhusiopathiaesuis, S. cholerasuis and beta-hemolytic Esch. coli in newborn pigs]. / Vurkhu rezorbtsiiata na kolastrenite gamma-globulini i poiavata na antitela protiv Bact. rhusiopathiaesuis, S. choleraesuis i beta-khemolitichni Esch. coli pri novorodeni praseta.

Traced was the resorption of colostral globulins and the production of antibodies against Bacterium rhusiopathiae suis, S. choleraesuis, and beta-hemolytic Escherichia coli organisms in newborn pigs. It was found that in the newborn pigs that had not yet started sucking there were no gamma-globulins and specific antibodies against the agents mentioned above. Such were observed after the animals had begun to suck, the titers of antibodies reaching their peak levels by the 10th--15th hour (erysipelothrix and paratyphoid) and the 24th--48th hour (hemolytic Escherichia coli). As against their mothers the titer of the antibodies in the sucklings was two to four times as lower. The gamma-lactoglobulins are resorbed along the whole intestinal mucous membrane, however, resorption is most intense in the duodenum and the jejunum in the course of the first 2 days after farrowing; from the fifth day on it ceases.