[Vaccination of weaner pigs against classical swine fever with the subunit vaccine "Porcilis Pesti": influence of different immunization plans on excretion and transmission of challenge virus].

Excretion and transmission of CSFV after vaccination with the CSF subunit marker vaccine "Porcilis Pesti" have been studied using the following different vaccination schedules: Group A--two vaccinations with an interval of 28 d, challenge 14 d after second vaccination (p.v2.); group B--two vaccinations with an interval of 14 d, challenge 14 d later; group C--two vaccinations with an interval of 28 d, challenge at time of booster vaccination; group D--two vaccinations with an interval of 14 d, challenge 7 d p.v2.; group E--single vaccination and infection 14 d later. After infection one sentinel pig was added to the vaccinated and infected pigs of each group. A single vaccination did not induce protective immunity against a CSFV challenge. Double vaccination at a four-week interval protected piglets from clinical infection, and neither viraemia and leukopenia nor virus excretion were detected if infected 14 d p.v2. Two vaccinations at a two-week interval followed by a challenge 7 d p.v2. led to a short viraemia on day 5 p.i. but without excretion of CSFV. Though all other vaccination schedules induced a reduction in virus shedding and a decrease in CSFV replication, in all these cases in-contact controls became infected. The results of transmission of CSFV are discussed in relation to a potential use of subunit marker vaccines in CSF control.