Vaccine for use against subclinical
The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising non live Lawsonia intracellularis antigen and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for use in a method to reduce in a pig the negative impact on average daily weight gain (ADWG) associated with subclinical infection with Lawsonia intracellularis , by systemic administration of the vaccine to the pig.
1. A method to reduce the negative impact on average daily weight gain (ADWG) associated with a subclinical infection with Lawsonia intracellularis in a pig comprising a systemic administration of a vaccine comprising a killed whole cell Lawsonia intracellularis antigen and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the pig, wherein the vaccine is administered prior to the pig being subclinically infected, and wherein said subclinical infection is due to a post vaccination infection with Lawsonia intracellularis.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the systemic administration of the vaccine further results in the reduction of shedding of Lawsonia intracellularis bacteria by the pig as a result of the subclinical infection.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is administered only once.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is administered when the pig is 3-10 days of age.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the vaccine is administered when the pig is 3 to 4 weeks old.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein 2-4 weeks after said systemic administration of the vaccine, a second dose of the vaccine is administered to the pig.