Coliprotec
Coliprotec is a live oral vaccine recommended as an aid to preventing post-weaning diarrhea in pigs caused by F4(K88)-positive E. coli bacteria. This is the first live bacterial vaccine for livestock production to have been fully developed and manufactured in Canada.
Post-weaning diarrhea usually affects piglets during the first two weeks after weaning. It delays growth, damages production performance, and causes up to 20% mortality in affected herds. The last 10 years have seen a worldwide upsurge in this infection, resulting in high costs for swine producers.
Before Coliprotec, preventing or treating post-weaning diarrhea meant using antibiotics. However, the increasing resistance of bacteria is eating away at their effectiveness. Meanwhile, governments, consumers and health professionals are becoming concerned about the use of antibiotics in food production.
Post-weaning diarrhea usually affects piglets during the first two weeks after weaning. It delays growth, damages production performance, and causes up to 20% mortality in affected herds. The last 10 years have seen a worldwide upsurge in this infection, resulting in high costs for swine producers.
Before Coliprotec, preventing or treating post-weaning diarrhea meant using antibiotics. However, the increasing resistance of bacteria is eating away at their effectiveness. Meanwhile, governments, consumers and health professionals are becoming concerned about the use of antibiotics in food production.
The Coliprotec vaccine is a pure culture of avirulent E. coli bacteria, that is bacteria which produce no pathogenic toxins. When administered to piglets, it binds to intestinal cells and triggers the animal's immune response. Antibodies rapidly multiply and prevent the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine.
Issued in multi-dose packages, the vaccine can be administered orally in drinking water, thereby eliminating the cumbersome logistics of restraining the animals and injecting drugs. The vaccine acts to prevent the disease, reducing labour costs such as those associated with the management of sick animals.
Issued in multi-dose packages, the vaccine can be administered orally in drinking water, thereby eliminating the cumbersome logistics of restraining the animals and injecting drugs. The vaccine acts to prevent the disease, reducing labour costs such as those associated with the management of sick animals.