Let's talk about Sow Mortality

Reduction of the mortality rate using a Clostridium novyi vaccine

IPVS 2020



Herve, G.; De Cleer, J.; Boix, O.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a commercial subunit vaccine containing the α toxin of Clostridium novyi as a sudden death prevention tool.

Clostridium novyi is an anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive rod and ubiquitous bacteria in swine farms. Beyond that, Clostridium novyi alpha toxin is the responsible of porcine infectious necrotic hepatitis and sudden death in sows, especially during the late states of gestation and the peripartum.

 

Its diagnosis consists in a rigorous postmortem inspection followed by a collection of the liver parenchyma for a subsequent molecular diagnosis using a PCR test.

Sow mortality is a growing concern on pig farms. There are multiple causes behind it, such as C. novyi. It is remarkable to highlight the importance of having a good diagnosis of Clostridia disease in order to identify the mortality source.

 

These results demonstrate the importance of the implementation of a vaccination program against Clostridium novyi as a primary measure to reduce the incidence of sudden death in commercial farms.