Detection of Clostridium perfringens type C in pig herds following disease outbreak and subsequent vaccination.

Abstract

Immunisation of sows using Clostridium perfringens type C toxoid vaccines is recommended to prevent necrotising enteritis (NE) on pig breeding farms. Absence of disease, however, oftentimes leads to the false assumption of pathogens being eradicated. The prevalence of C perfringens type C was determined by PCR in faecal samples of piglets and sows in three Swiss pig breeding farms two to four years after implementation of a vaccination programme following disease outbreaks. C perfringens type C could still be detected several years after an outbreak despite absence of NE. In-herd prevalence of the pathogens varied significantly between the farms and was also lower compared with a farm which experienced a recent outbreak. In conclusion, C perfringens type C can be detected on once-affected farms, even in the absence of NE for several years.

• Authors: K Schäfer, M Wyder, S Gobeli, A Candi, M G Doherr, B Zehnder, W Zimmermann, H Posthaus
• Journal: The Veterinary record (Vet Rec) Vol. 171 Issue 20 Pg. 503 (Nov 17 2012) ISSN: 2042-7670 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23100304 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Vaccines
• Enterotoxins

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Bacterial Vaccines (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Clostridium Infections (epidemiology, microbiology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Clostridium perfringens (isolation & purification)
• Disease Outbreaks (prevention & control, veterinary)
• Enteritis (epidemiology, microbiology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Enterotoxins (genetics)
• Feces (microbiology)
• Female
• Male
• Necrosis (epidemiology, microbiology, prevention & control, veterinary)
• Prevalence
• Swine
• Swine Diseases (epidemiology, microbiology, prevention & control)