Efficacy of 3FLEX® for the control of PRRS infection in the nursery at a Jeju island swine farm

PRRS infection is one of the most serious diseases that causes huge economic loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate 3FLEX® vaccination to control PRRSv infection in the nursery and to compare the efficacy when vaccinated separately or as 3FLEX®, in the combination with FLEXcombo®.

The study was performed in a farrow to finish one site farm of 200 sows. The farm used already FLEXcombo® (CircoFLEX®+MycoFLEX®) in piglets at 21days of age(DOA). Weaned piglets at 40~70 DOA suffered from PRRSv, so Ingelvac® PRRS MLV was added to the vaccination schedule.

PRRS MLV vaccination schedules were 3FLEX (CircoFLEX + MycoFLEX + Ingelvac PRRS MLV) or FLEXcombo (CircoFLEX + MycoFLEX) + Ingelvac PRRS MLV separately per group and evaluated separately. Groups A (20 pigs) and B (19 pigs) served as controls with FLEXcombo vaccination only. Group C (23 pigs) received FLEXcombo + Ingelvac PRRS MLV separately and finally group D (23 pigs) received 3FLEX. Evaluated parameters were weights, average daily weight gain (ADG) and mortality of each group over a period of 2 weeks starting with weaning at 32 DOA.

Before the start of the study, this farm suffered from decreased productivity. Pigs in groups A and B showed symptoms of a PRRS infection with apathy, reduced appetite, fever and reduced weight gain. 3 pigs in group A and 1 pig in group B group died and both groups needed immediate medications (Ceftiofur, Prednisolone and Sulpyrine). The investigation of blood samples demonstrated PRRS at the age of 40 days. After medication, there was no additional mortality in pigs of groups A and B over the 2weeks experimental period. No pigs died in groups C and D. In addition, there were no clinical symptoms of PRRS and pigs grew well. Additional PRRS vaccination (group C and D) substantially increased performance with regard to mortality, ADG and FCR and there was an additional benefit in ADG(average of C and D group was about 50g higher) and FCR(average of C and D group was about 0.22 lower) when using 3FLEX instead of separate injection of FLEXcombo and the PRRS vaccine.

Generally suow vaccination may prevent vertical transmission of PRRS from sow to piglets but cannot prevent horizontal transmission in nursery or grow-finishing. To control clinical disease in pigs after weaning, a piglet vaccination has to be applied. Additional PRRS vaccination in piglets has demonstrated high efficacy in controlling PRRS in piglets with 3FLEX being the most effective and economic schedule. Beside demonstrating best production data it saves labor and reduces stress for the piglets by reduced number of injections compared to separate injections of FLEXcombo and Ingelvac PRRS MLV.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.