Vaccination for lawsonia intracellularis

Abstract

The present invention include a method of protecting an animal against Lawsonia intracellularis infections, the method including administering a dose of live virulent L. intracellularis to the animal, allowing a subclinical L. intracellularis infection to develop in the animal, and administering one or more antibiotics to the animal, wherein the one or more antibiotic is administered in a dose sufficient to abbreviate the subclinical L. intracellularis infection.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising:
 a composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;  and   instructions for the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  L. intracellularis  to a pig at a dose that results in the development of a subclinical  L. intracellularis  infection in the pig.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions for the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  L. intracellularis  comprise instructions for the administration at a dose selected from the group consisting of about 10 6  or fewer live virulent  L. intracellularis  organisms per pig, about 10 5  or fewer live virulent  L. intracellularis  organisms per pig, about 10 4  or fewer live virulent  L. intracellularis  organisms per pig, and about 10 4  to about 10 6  live virulent  L. intracellularis  organisms per pig. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions for the administration of one or more antibiotic to the pig, at a dose sufficient to abbreviate the subclinical  L. intracellularis  infection. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 19  further comprising instructions for the administration of one or more antibiotic to the pig, wherein the instructions for the administration of the one or more antibiotic comprise instructions for administration beginning more than 7 days after the administration of the live virulent  L. intracellularis,  and wherein the one or more antibiotic is administered in a dose sufficient to abbreviate the subclinical  L. intracellularis  infection. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more antibiotic comprises carbadox and/or tiamulin. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions for the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  comprise instructions for administration at a dose of about 10 4  to about 10 6  live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  organisms per pig. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more antibiotic comprises carbadox and/or tiamulin. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more antibiotic. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more antibiotic comprises carbadox and/or tiamulin. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 20 , further comprising one or more antibiotic. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  comprises an intestinal homogenate. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  is obtained from an autogenous source. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  is frozen. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  has been assayed to confirm the absence of other enteric pathogens. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions for the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  comprises instructions for administration to the pig orally. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 32 , wherein oral delivery comprises delivery in the drinking water. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions for the administration of one or more antibiotic to the pig comprise:
 instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated more than 7 days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;      instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated more than 7 days but no more that 21 days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;      instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated 10 or more days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;  or   instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated 14 or more days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis.      
     
     
         35 . A kit comprising:
 a composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;  and   instructions for the dilution and administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  to a pig at a dose of about 10 4  to about 10 6  live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis  organisms per pig.   
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 35 , further comprising instructions for the administration of one or more antibiotic to the pig at a dose sufficient to abbreviate the subclinical  Lawsonia intracellularis  infection. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions for the administration of one or more antibiotic to the pig comprise:
 instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated more than 7 days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;      instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated more than 7 days but no more that 21 days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;      instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated 10 or more days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis;  or   instructions that administration of the one or more antibiotic is initiated 14 or more days after the administration of the composition comprising live virulent  Lawsonia intracellularis.