Evaluation of vaccine-induced maternal immunity against classical swine fever

The vaccine-induced maternal immunity against classical swine fever (CSF) w as investigated in this study. Eight sows were vaccinated with the Chinese strain of classical swine fever virus (CSFV). The length of time between Va ccination and farrowing was 167-217 days. Milk samples from the front, midd le and back udder sections and blood samples were taken from the sows on da ys 3 and 14 after farrowing. Blood samples were obtained from the piglets a t the age of 3, 6 and 10 weeks. The antibody level of the milk was examined by ELISA, and that of blood samples by the virus neutralization (VN) test as well. In all 3-week-old piglets and in 80% of the 6-week-old animals the neutralizing antibody level reached the titre of 1:40. In none of the 10-w eek-old piglets did the titre exceed the value of 1:20, but in about 25% of the piglets it reached 1:20; the half of these piglets came from two litte rs. In none of the piglets did the antibody level reach the negative thresh old in the ELISA test during the study. No significant differences were fou nd between the udder sections in milk antibody level by ELISA.