PORCILIS AR-T DF uses DILUVAC FORTE® (DF), an aqueous vitamin E-based adjuvant and will replace PORCILIS AR-T, a similar vaccine containing an oil-based adjuvant. The newly formulated vaccine is approved to reduce the clinical signs of progressive atrophic rhinitis in their offspring. Progressive atrophic rhinitis is caused by a toxin from the bacteria Pasteurella multocida affecting bone-forming cells in the snout of the young piglet.

Marc Dickie, Senior Director, Global Swine Business Unit at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health said: “The innovative PORCILIS AR-T DF vaccine combines the proven efficacy of the current PORCILIS AR-T with an improved safety profile and convenience for the veterinarian that is offered by the aqueous DILUVAC FORTE adjuvant. The new vaccine also demonstrates the commitment of our company to continuously improve our vaccines, thereby offering value-added benefits to our customers.”

PORCILIS AR-T DF contains protein dO, a non-toxic gene deletion derivative of the P. multocida dermonecrotic toxin as well as inactivated Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterial cells. B. bronchiseptica is often present with P. multocida and is considered an important predisposing factor for the disease. When the pregnant sow is vaccinated, the pig’s immune system starts to produce antibodies, which are then passed onto the sow’s piglets via the colostrum to protect them against the disease.

Field trials with PORCILIS AR-T DF have shown good protection against the clinical signs of progressive atrophic rhinitis in piglets. In a direct comparative study of the new vaccine against PORCILIS AR-T, colostrum of vaccinated sows had comparable levels of antibodies against progressive atrophic rhinitis, whereas there were significantly fewer tissue reactions at the injection site in the PORCILIS AR-T DF group. In a placebo-controlled study, piglets from vaccinated sows were protected by the maternally derived antibodies against clinical signs of progressive atrophic rhinitis and had a higher average daily weight gain as well as higher carcass weight at slaughter as compared to untreated controls.

Atrophic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nose mucosal tissue of both suckling and growing pigs. During the process of infection the delicate turbinate bones in the nose become damaged and may shrink or become distorted. There are two forms of the disease: mild and non-progressive where the infection or irritation occurs over a period of 2-3 weeks. The serious disease form is progressive atrophic rhinitis where toxin-producing strains of P. multocida present in the herd cause a continual and progressive inflammation and atrophy of the tissues. The clinical characteristics are nose bleeds, shortening of the upper jaw and reductions of daily weight gain, resulting in significant economic losses for pig farmers.

Further Reading

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