Escherichia coli vaccines for weaned piglets

There are different vaccines according to the disease to be prevented:

Vaccine type

• Edema disease: Inactivated vaccines whose main antigen is the recombinant form or toxoid of Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), designed to induce active immunity against Stx2e.
• Post-weaning diarrhea: Oral live vaccines based on non-pathogenic strains that express F4 (K88) and/or F18 adhesins; their purpose is to induce local intestinal immunity to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea and fecal shedding.

  For post-weaning diarrhea, there are also some vaccines for sows that, in addition to the multiple adhesins and toxoids they contain, which are aimed at conferring passive immunity to piglets in the farrowing unit, also include a direct vaccination schedule for piglets.

Indications for use

Edema disease: Active immunization of piglets to reduce mortality and clinical signs of edema disease. One of the commercial options also states: “as well as reducing daily weight loss during the finishing period associated with infections with verotoxin 2e produced by E. coli until slaughter at 164 days of age.”

Post-weaning diarrhea: Immunization to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea and decrease shedding of F4/F18 ETEC.

In the case of those included in vaccines for sows: for the active immunization of piglets against post-weaning diarrhea.

Route of administration and dosage

• Edema disease: Intramuscular, with a single 1-ml injection given at the minimum age indicated in the product information (2 or 4 days of age, depending on the product).
• Post-weaning diarrhea: Oral vaccine (reconstituted lyophilisate, suspension administered individually or via drinking water). The product information includes detailed instructions for reconstituting and administering the product orally, either individually to each piglet or through the drinking water.
• Inactivated sow/piglet vaccines: Intramuscular; an initial 0.5-ml dose at ten days of age. At weaning, a second 1-ml dose is injected.

Onset and duration of immunity

• Vaccines with Stx2 antigen: Immunity is established approximately 21 days post-vaccination and lasts 15-16 weeks.
• Live oral vaccine (F4/F18): Immunity is established approximately 1 week post-vaccination and lasts 3 weeks.
• Inactivated sow/piglet vaccines: Immunity lasts 21 days. The time required for the onset of immunity is not specified.