Efficacy of Simultaneous Vaccination of Piglets Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Classical Swine Fever

Abstract

Simultaneous vaccination of piglets against more than one infectious disease is preferred for practical and economical concerns. This study evaluated the efficacy of simultaneous vaccination of piglets against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and classical swine fever (CSF). Two methods of simultaneous vaccination were tested: the first was separately inoculating FMD and CSF vaccines in different spots of the piglets, whereas the second was inoculating mixed FMD and CSF vaccines in one spot. After vaccination, the antibody responses raised by the two methods were compared with those raised by immunizing with FMD or CSF vaccine alone. The results showed that antibody responses to FMD and CSF were not significantly influenced by the simultaneous vaccination of the two vaccines. Moreover, all piglets vaccinated with CSF, either alone or together with FMD, remained clinically normal after the challenge. Our study demonstrates that piglets can be simultaneously vaccinated with FMD and CSF vaccines, either by separate inoculations or by a single inoculation of mixed vaccines. This finding is useful for establishing a practical and labor-saving program for vaccination against FMD and CSF.