Effects of vaccination and of a phytogenic feed additive on postweaning mortality due to Escherichia coli and on piglet performance

Implementation of a vaccine against Shigatoxin 2e in a piglet producing farm with problems of Oedema disease: case study

Oedema disease is one of the major diseases in pigs during the nursery period. It is caused by Shigatoxin 2e producing strains of Escherichia coli. In order to combat the disease, the metaphylactic use of colistin sulphate and zinc oxide is widely spread. Additionally, special feeding regimens such as the reduction of the amount of crude protein and the increase of the amount of crude fibre are applied. The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of a vaccine against Oedema disease caused by Shigatoxin 2e in a field trial on a farm with a history of Oedema disease in nursery pigs. The study was carried out on a Dutch farm with 600 sows and a one-week farrowing rhythm and lasted for the time of one year. During this time all piglets were vaccinated with 1 ml ECOPORC SHIGA at the average age of 4 days. The parameters Overall mortality, use of antimicrobials in general, calculated as defined daily dose per animal, use of colistin sulphate and the weight gain were evaluated for all nursery pigs and compared to historical data of animals from the same period of time directly prior to the study serving as a historical control group. The previous mortality in the nursery of 7.7% was significantly reduced to 1.3% after vaccination. The metaphylactic use of colistin sulphate during the nursery period was stopped during the study because no deaths due to Oedema disease had occurred anymore after beginning of vaccination. The defined daily dose per animal per month was significantly reduced from a mean of 1.050 in the year 2012 to a mean of 0.215 in the year 2013. The defined daily dose per animal per year was therefore relevantly reduced from 12.6 in 2012 to 2.6 in 2013. These results show that on this farm Oedema disease can not only be controlled successfully by vaccination but also that vaccination can significantly reduce the use of antimicrobials in the nursery period.

PATOTIPOS DE ESCHERICHIA COLI NA SUINOCULTURA E SUAS IMPLICAÇÕES AMBIENTAIS E NA RESISTÊNCIA AOS ANTIMICROBIANOS

RESUMO A suinocultura moderna tem propiciado a obtenção de índices produtivos positivos, entretanto tem predisposto os suínos a um grande número de doenças. A ocorrência dessas enfermidades estimulou o uso indiscriminado das drogas antimicrobianas na prevenção de infecções.Escherichia coli é um dos principais patógenos da suinocultura e se caracteriza pela alta resistência aos agentes antimicrobianos. A habilidade deste patógeno na transmissão horizontal da resistência aos antimicrobianos decorre de vários mecanismos genéticos e possui sérias implicações à saúde pública. Dentre os problemas associados à disseminação da resistência múltipla aos antimicrobianos, podemos citar a contaminação do homem e dos animais por bactérias patogênicas de difícil controle terapêutico, principalmente por meio dos alimentos e de ambiente contaminados. Esta revisão tem como objetivo abordar aspectos relevantes de E. coli relativos ao seu potencial patogênico em suínos e à sua resistência às drogas antimicrobianas. Além disso, também apresenta algumas das alternativas aos usos desses fármacos na suinocultura.