UA96923C2 - Lawsonia vaccine and methods of use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method of providing increased protection against Lawsonia intracellularis infection in an animal comprising the steps of: (a) vaccinating the mother of said animal with said vaccine while said mother is pregnant with said animal, wherein vaccination is carried out during the second or third stages of gestation; (b) administering an effective dose of a Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine to said animal within 26 days after birth. The invention further relates to a method of providing increased protection against ileitis in a piglet comprising the step of vaccinating a sow pregnant with said piglet with an effective dose of a vaccine against Lawsonia intracellularis infection, said vaccination of said sow occurring in the second or third stage of gestation. Said sow receives three vaccinations with said first vaccination occurring between 50 and 60 days prior to farrowing said piglet, second vaccination occurring between 30 and 40 days prior to farrowing said piglet and third vaccination occurring between 10 and 20 days prior to farrowing said piglet. The invention further provides medicinal use of an effective amount of Lawsonia intracellularis antigen for the preparation of a medicament for vaccinating young animals with an effective dose of a vaccine effective for providing increased protection against Lawsonia intracellularis infection, by vaccinating the mother of said young animal with said medicament while said mother is pregnant with said young animal during the second or third stages of gestation of said young animal, said young animals being between 10 and 26 days of age.