The possibilities of Aujeszky's disease virus elimination from pig populations using "vaccination-eradication programme"

The great progress achieved in recent ears in molecular biology and genetic engineering disciplines enabled the creation of Aujeszky's disease (AD) vi rus (SHV-1) deletion mutants, which establish a base for the elaboration of deletion (marker) vaccines. These vaccines together with appropriate serol ogical tests (ELISA) enable the realization of a vaccination-eradication pr ogramme that gives real chances to eliminate SHV-1 from infected farms (reg ions, countries). The objective of the study was to introduce and evaluate the possibilities of SHV-1 elimination from pig populations in two highly i nfected pig farms in the Warmia and Masuria province in Poland. Pig vaccina tions were done using deleted, gE- and TK-negative, live attenuated Nobi - Porvac Aujeszky Live Begonia vaccine (at present Porcilis Begonia) produced by Intervet Int., Holland. Reproductive pigs were vaccinated twice 3 weeks apart and then every 4 months at the same time. Replacement gilts were vac cinated twice before service and replacement boars twice in the quarantine period. Piglets born to vaccinated dams were vaccinated at 10-12 and 14-16 weeks of age. Observations of postvaccinal adverse effects and control of t he epizootic situation in both herds were conducted. Clinical and epizootiological studies revealed neither local nor general ad verse effects in pigs of various age groups. In spite of high SHV-1 infecti on levels no clinical signs of AD during vaccination - eradication programm e in both herds were observed. This proved innocuity and good efficacy of P orcilis Begonia vaccine. The stages of implementing the vaccination-eradication programme in pig her ds, as well as the necessity of a quick introduction of a complex AD eradic ation programme in Poland according to the general tendency in the EU were also presented in the paper.