Comparative efficacy of three commercial PCV2 vaccines in conventionally reared pigs

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of three commercial porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccines. Twenty 3-week old pigs were injected with one of three different vaccines, A, B, C, or were unvaccinated controls. Pigs in group A were given a second dose at 6 weeks of age according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Antibody titers in all pigs declined gradually, but increased sharply by 22 weeks of age. Viremia in the three vaccinated groups at 22 weeks of age was significantly less than in the control group. The average daily gains of pigs in groups A–C, and in controls were 0.81 ± 0.03, 0.80 ± 0.05, 0.78 ± 0.04, and 0.74 ± 0.05 kg, respectively. It was concluded that PCV2 vaccine reduced viremia and improved weight gain, but differences in weight gain among vaccinated groups were not statistically significant.