Effect of immunization with a suspension of selected strains of Yersinia enterocolitica on the course of a controlled infection in pigs and the duration of bacterial shedding.

Y. enterocolitica infection of pigs is concerned with a common carrier and shedding states in this species. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the experimental immunization of pigs with a selected Y. enterocolitica strains suspension on the controled infection course, the antibody level formation, as well as the duration of pathogen shedding. The immunization of pigs was enforced with a suspension of Y. enterocolitica strains previously inactivated with formol, suspended in PBS and demonstrated in vitro high immunogenicity in Respiratory Burst Activity/Potential Killing Activity (RBA/PKA) and Mitogen Transformation Test (MTT). The study was performed on 15 pigs divided into 3 groups. The animals from groups I and II received an immunizate with a density of 2.7 x 10(9) cfu/ml administered subcutaneously in doses 2 ml and 5 ml, respectively, twice in a 2-week interval. The third group (control) was administered PBS in an analogous scheme. The evaluation in vivo was conducted after a per os challenge with a pathogenic strain of Y. enterocolitica O:3. The first and booster immunization had no effect on the clinical picture and body weight gains of the immunized animals. The fastest and strongest immune response to the per os challenge with Y. enterocolitica O:3 was observed in the control group, already in the first week post infection (wpi). Higher antibody levels were found in the group of animals where 5 ml 2.7 x 10(9) cfu/cm(3) subcutaneously were administered. In the first wpi bacterial shedding was observed in all animals that belonged to group I and the control group which persisted up to 3 wpi. Among the pigs from group II the shedding was observed in 3 out of 5 animals, and which finished in 6 days post infection. Applied experimental immunization against per os challenge with a pathogenic strain of Y. enterocolitica O:3 did not prevent pathogen shedding, but merely limited its intensity and duration.