Porcine Pili Shield™
Swine Vaccine

The best way to protect newborn piglets from colibacillosis (scours) is to vaccine sows and gilts with Porcine Pili Shield or Porcine Pili Shield + C prior to farrowing. Both products help protects piglets against disease caused by four types of E. coli bacteria; Porcine Pili Shield + C adds protection against enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens Type C.

The vaccine helps the sow build protective antibodies that she passes along in the colostrum to nursing piglets. These antibodies help prevent E. coli bacteria from attaching to gut wall. Without attachment, the bacteria do not produce toxins. Antibodies also protect against both the bacteria and the toxin of C. perfringens Type C.

Over 90% of the toxic E. coli strains isolated from swine are K88, K99, 987P or F41 – the four types present in Porcine Pili Shield. Cl perfringens is commonly found in the normal intestinal tract of many domestic animals, including swine.

In a challenge study comparing unvaccinated pigs with Porcine Pili Shield + C vaccinates, piglets of vaccinated and unvaccinated gilts were challenged with one of the four strains of E. coli. Piglets of vaccinated gilts had less death loss, fewer clinical signs of disease, and better average daily weight gain than piglets of unvaccinated controls.

In another challenge study, 83% of piglets from vaccinated gilts survived challenge with C. perfringens Type C, while none of the piglets from unvaccinated gilts survived.

An emerging problem in swine operations is new clostridial strains -- C. perfringens Type A and C. difficile. Custom vaccines are currently available to address these problems.