Two ways to protect pigs for the price of one

Two ways to protect pigs for the price of one


There’s some good news out there for swine producers looking to protect their pigs from infectious diseases.

Researchers recently discovered that a single vaccine might protect pigs against two key pathogens. Lawsonia intracellularis causes diarrhea and weight loss in pigs after weaning, and salmonella is a well-known pathogen that can be passed from pigs to people.

Now, it looks like an anti-Lawsonia vaccine also reduces the passage of salmonella into the environment. Although researchers aren’t sure why this happens, they speculate that the vaccine alters the bacterial population of the digestive tract, causing salmonella populations to fall. This could be a cost-effective way to control salmonella instead of using an anti-salmonella vaccine too.

After all, two means of protection for the price of one is always a bonus.

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