Passive immunisation of post-weaned piglets using hyperimmune serum against experimental Haemophilus parasuis infection

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 91; no. 2; pp. 225 - 229
• Main Authors: Nedbalcova, K., Kucerova, Z., Krejci, J., Tesarik, R., Gopfert, E., Kummer, V., Leva, L., Kudlackova, H., Ondriasova, R., Faldyna, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.10.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Challenge; Czech Republic; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Haemophilus Infections - immunology; Haemophilus Infections - prevention & control; Haemophilus Infections - veterinary; Haemophilus parasuis; Haemophilus parasuis - immunology; Haemophilus parasuis - isolation & purification; Haemophilus Vaccines - immunology; Humans; Hyperimmune serum; Immunization, Passive - methods; Passive immunisation; Piglets; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases - immunology; Swine Diseases - prevention & control; Tissue Distribution; Veterinary medicine; Weaning; Czech Republic; Hyperimmune serum; Piglets; Passive immunisation; Haemophilus parasuis; Challenge
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.12.008

The protective role of hyperimmune serum in the prevention of Haemophilus parasuis infections in post-weaned piglets was assessed by experimental challenge. The hyperimmune serum was obtained from a pig vaccinated with a commercial vaccine against Glässer’s disease. Thirty-eight weaned piglets were divided into four groups: three groups were immunised intramuscularly with 10 ml of hyperimmune serum and one group consisted of unimmunised control animals. All piglets were subsequently infected intraperitoneally with H. parasuis serotype 5 at different times after immunisation. The use of hyperimmune serum provided the piglets with partial protection against experimental infection. The levels of protection indirectly depend on time between serum inoculation and challenge infection. The best protection of piglets against experimental infection was obtained in the group immunised 1 week before inoculation; the same group in which the highest levels of antibodies were detected at the time of challenge.