Lawsonia vaccine and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides improved vaccination methods for increased protection against ileitis. The methods provide for the vaccination of young animals, preferably piglets, between 10 and 26 days of age, vaccination of pregnant sows during the second or third stages of gestation, and a combination of these methods. Vaccination of the pregnant sows can occur using repeated and/or high doses of Lawsonai antigen prior to farrowing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . 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 and said increased protection being in comparison to a piglet born from a sow that did not receive the vaccine. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , said vaccination occurring up to 60 days prior to farrowing said piglet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , said sow being vaccinated with repeated doses of vaccine prior to farrowing said piglet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , said sow receiving three vaccinations with said first vaccination occurring between 50 and 60 days prior to farrowing said piglet. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , said second vaccination occurring between 30 and 40 days prior to farrowing said piglet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , said third vaccination occurring between 10 and 20 days prior to farrowing said piglet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , said vaccination being with a high dose of  Lawsonia intracellularis  antigen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , said high dose comprising an amount of  Lawsonia intracellularis  antigen that is at least three fold higher than conventional amounts of  Lawsonai  antigen used in vaccines. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , said antigen being selected from the group consisting of modified live  Lawsonia intracellularis  bacteria, killed  Lawsonia intracellularis  bacteria, one or more sub-units of  Lawsonia intracellularis  bacteria, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , said modified live  Lawsonia intracellularis  bacteria being selected from the group consisting of ATCC Accession No. PTA-4926, ATCC Accession No. 55783, and combinations thereof.