The invention relates to stabilized antigen compositions of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and vaccine formulations containing such antigen compositions. Antigens of the invention are effective in providing long-term protection against erysipelas in animals.
1. A vaccine composition comprising an antigen composition and an adjuvant composition, wherein the antigen composition comprises a fluid fraction of an Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae culture and a stabilizing agent, wherein the Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae culture is inactivated with beta-propiolactone or formalin and the stabilizing agent is aluminum hydroxide gel present at 30% v/v in said vaccine composition, and wherein the adjuvant composition comprises about 2% v/v lecithin, about 18% v/v mineral oil, and a combined volume of about 8% v/v of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and sorbitan monooleate surfactants with the remaining volume being a saline solution, wherein said vaccine composition is stable for at least one year and protects an animal against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection.
2. The vaccine composition of claim 1 , wherein the animal is a pig or weaned pig.
3. The vaccine composition of claim 2 , wherein the vaccine composition protects said weaned pig against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection for six months.
4. The vaccine composition of claim 1 , wherein the fluid fraction of the antigen composition is concentrated 6 to 20 fold.