E.coli vaccines for poultry

E.coli vaccines are used for the control of septicaemia, egg peritonitis and airsaculitis. A particular problem for several egg producers is peritonitis and septicaemia caused by multiple antibiotic resistant E.coli strains in laying birds. E.coli is a very heterogeneous bacterial species and on each farm several serotypes of E.coli can be associated with disease. The virulence factors of avian pathogenic E.coli (APEC) are poorly defined. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the serotype specific antigen, has been shown to be immuno-dominant and antibodies to LPS have been associated with protective immune responses against E.coli infections.  We use PCR to detect specific genes associated with APEC strains to distinguish APEC from commensal E.coli.

As our Emergency Vaccines are derived from the bacterial strain(s) that is isolated from infected birds at the target site, they therefore have potential to induce a potent immune response against the problem strain(s). Our clients have reported the use of Emergency Vaccines for the control of E.coli as highly effective in controlling this type of infection in free range, barn and organically reared birds.

 

E.coli vaccines for pigs

E.coli vaccines are used for the control of scours. For some piglet diseases, such as Scours caused by E.coli bacteria, often the best strategy is to vaccinate the sow prior to farrowing.  The vaccine increases the concentration of antibodies in the sows milk and in turn these antibodies are absorbed by the piglets. We generally recommend that the sows are vaccinated at 3 and 6 weeks prior to farrowing to provide the best protection in the piglets.