Dose response relationship of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae aerosols in pigs.

The virulence of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae was quantitated for ten and 12 week old pigs following aerosol exposure. The volume and concentration of culture aerosolized, the estimated numbers of organisms inhaled by the pigs and the mortality rates at 72 hours postexposure were computed and used to calculate the LD50. There was correlation between the concentration of culture aerosolized, the amount of the estimated inhaled dose and the mortality rates. The ten week old pigs were apparently more susceptible to aerosols of H. pleuropneumoniae than the 12 week old pigs. The LD50 value or a multiple of it appears to be a reasonable basis for a standardized aerosol challenge of the immunity of pigs vaccinated with experimental or commercial H. pleuropneumoniae vaccines.