LAUSR

Post-weaning Escherichia coli diarrhea (PWD) remains a major cause of economic losses for the pig industry. PWD, caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), typically provokes mild to severe watery diarrhea between 5 and 10 days after weaning. Recently, an oral live bivalent E. coli F4/F18 vaccine (Coliprotec® F4/F18; Elanco) is available on the European market, which reduces the impact of PWD provoked by F4-ETEC and F18-ETEC. The objective was to compare technical results of E. coli F4/F18 vaccination with previous standard therapeutic approach under field conditions. A 1100-sow farm with diagnosed problems of PWD due to F18-ETEC was selected. Control piglets received the standard treatment protocol with antimicrobials during the post-weaning phase. Vaccinated piglets were immunized at 18 days with the oral live bivalent E. coli F4/ F18 vaccine. At weaning, no standard group medication (ZnO and antibiotics) was applied for prevention of PWD. Piglets were fed a commercial dry feed. Several performance parameters were collected: weight at d0-47, ADWG, ADFI, FCR, TI100 and mortality. Statistical analysis was performed with JMP 14.0 – comparison of means. Oral E. coli F4/F18 vaccination significantly reduced the mortality rate (3.56% to 1.67%; P< 0.05) and TI100 (10 to 0 days; P< 0.05). All other performance parameters (ADWG, ADFI and FCR) were at the same level compared to pre-vaccination. Live E. coli F4/F18 vaccination against PWD resulted in similar technical performance parameters, in combination with a significant reduction in the mortality and medication use. In conclusion, control of PWD through vaccination is a good option in order to prevent piglets from the negative clinical outcomes of F18-ETEC infection during the post-weaning period.