Growing performance improvement after using PRRS MLV at 3-weeks old piglets in a Korean swine farm

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes respiratory disease in nursery and grow-finisher pigs and reproductive failure in sows and boars¹. PRRSV-infected pigs usually suffer from poor growth performance and are highly susceptible to co- or secondary bacterial and other viral infections². PRRSV was first isolated in Korea in 1994 and all PRRSV isolates corresponded to the Type Ⅱ until 2000, TypeⅠPRRSV has recently emerged in Korea³. In this study we evaluate the efficacy of Ingelvac® PRRS MLV (TypeⅡ PRRSV based vaccine) piglet vaccination in a Korean swine farm infected with Type ⅠPRRSV.

This study was conducted in a commercial 750 sow farm with multi-site rearing systems, which has many different contracted finisher farms. End of 2012, the farm experienced a negative impact in productivity due to infection with TypeⅠPRRSV. The farm were already using FLEXcombo®(Ingelvac CircoFLEX® and Ingelvac MycoFLEX®) in 3 weeks old piglets, therefor it was obvious to use 3FLEX® (Ingelvac CircoFLEX® and Ingelvac MycoFLEX® and Ingelvac® PRRS MLV) at weaning. From Sep 2013 onwards, vaccination was performed with 3FLEX®(2ml) at 3 weeks old piglets. This farm already implemented quarterly mass vaccination in the breeding herd with Ingelvac® PRRS MLV. Before/After vaccination, blood samples were taken for antibody examination by ELISA(IDEXX PRRS 3X) and virus detection by RT-PCR. Performance data was analyzed before and after PRRS MLV piglets vaccination period

Until Ingelvac PRRS MLV piglet vaccination was implemented, only TypeⅠPRRSV was detected in nursery houses. Before vaccination, seroconversion was taking place ealy in growing pigs. After piglets vaccination, PRRSV were detected only late period of nursery and the variability of SP vales was reduced, suggesting a better stabilization process. Performance was an improved after vaccination. Unfortunately, there was fired at nursery in Oct 2014. Although include that accident, the average growth rate was 1.98%, 7.51% higher in piglets vaccinated group( 89.66% vs 91.64% vs 97.17%). Also, after PRRS MLV piglet vaccination at 21 days, we could reduce mortality at grow-finisher farms.

After the implementation of Ingelvac® PRRS MLV piglets vaccination, PRRS stabilization was achieved and an overall improvement in productivity was observed. This field case provides strong evidence of the ability Ingelvac® PRRS MLV to control TypeⅠPRRSV a Korean farm .

Implementation of a 3FLEX vaccination program can be a beneficial method to solve PRRS problems in the nursery. And on top reduce vaccination labor costs.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.