Longitudinal study on the efficacy of Ingelvac CircoFLEX® against Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC).

The objective of the presented field studies was to investigate the efficacy of a PCV2 vaccine (Ingelvac CircoFLEX (R), Boehringer Ingelheirn Vetmedica GmbH) on a PRDC affected pig herd. Over a period of 1.5 years a total of 2,652 approximately three week old piglets from 8 farrowing batches were included into the study and either vaccinated with Ingelvac CircoFLEX (R) or treated with a placebo. The onset of PCV2 viraemia in placebo-treated pigs of all farrowing batches was observed when animals were 17 to 21 weeks old. The maternal antibody titer which notably varied from farrowing batch to farrowing batch had no influence on the late beginning of viraemia in the placebo group. Vaccinated animals had a less severe viraemia with a later onset and no clinical signs. In animals of the placebo group the onset of viraemia coincided with the Occurrence of PRDC related clinical signs and respiratory pathogens (PRRSV, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyorhinis). Under the influence of Ingelvac CircoFLEX (R) a significant increase in the average daily weight gain during fattening (10.-25. weeks of age) was observed. The efficacy of vaccination was not influenced by the level of maternal antibodies present at the time of vaccination. In the average, vaccinated animals achieved a 2.7 kg higher weight gain and a 1.82% lower mortality rate than placebo-treated animals. Together the results of these studies demonstrate that vaccination with Ingelvac CircoFLEX (R) results in a significant improvement of economical important fattening parameters even in a late occurring disease complex such as PRDC (normally clinical signs occur before 10 weeks of life).