Immunization of pigs with a purified Shiga-like toxin II variant toxoid.

Passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies and active immunization with a toxoid of purified Shiga-like toxin II variant (SLT-IIv, edema disease toxin) were used to protect pigs against challenge with SLT-IIv. Six 6-week-old pigs were passively immunized by intraperitoneal administration of an immunoglobulin preparation from porcine antiserum against purified SLT-IIv. Six 6-week-old pigs and twelve 2-week-old pigs were actively immunized by two intramuscular injections of 25 micrograms of SLT-IIv toxoid given 2 weeks apart. The 24 immunized pigs and an equal number of age-matched unimmunized control pigs were all challenged by intravenous injection of purified SLT-IIv (6 ng/kg body weight). The six passively immunized pigs acquired neutralizing SLT-IIv antibody titers of 1280 or 2560 and the 18 actively immunized pigs mounted a serum immune response with toxin neutralizing titers ranging from 128 to 10,240. All 24 immunized pigs survived the challenge but nine pigs with the lowest titers showed mild clinical signs of edema disease. All 24 control pigs died within 30 hours of challenge.