Vaccine for protection against
The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising an IgM protease antigen of Streptococcus suis , for use in a method wherein a female pig is vaccinated in order to protect a piglet against Streptococcus suis through the intake of colostrum of the vaccinated female pig.
1. A method of protecting a piglet against Streptococcus suis comprising administering a vaccine comprising an IgM protease antigen of Streptococcus suis to a female pig to induce antibodies in the female pig and thereby, make the female pig seropositive for anti- Streptococcus suis antibodies, in order to protect the piglet against Streptococcus suis through the intake by the piglet of the colostrum of the seropositive female pig.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piglet is protected against Streptococcus suis during a four week period after the intake of the colostrum.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piglet is protected against Streptococcus suis during a six week period after the intake of the colostrum.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piglet is protected against Streptococcus suis during an eight week period after the intake of the colostrum.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piglet is protected against Streptococcus suis during a ten week period after the intake of the colostrum.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method confers protection to the piglet against clinical signs associated with a pathogenic infection with Streptococcus suis.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method confers protection to the piglet against an increased mortality associated with a pathogenic infection with Streptococcus suis.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IgM protease antigen is present in an amount below 250 μg per doses of the vaccine.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the IgM protease antigen is present at 120 μg per doses or below.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is administered to the female pig when the female pig is pregnant.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vaccine is administered to the female pig in a period of 0-8 weeks before parturition.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vaccine is administered to the female pig in a period of 0-6 weeks before parturition.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaccine is administered to the female pig twice.