Effects of the common protective antigen (OEP) and toxoids of protease and elastase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on protection against hemorrhagic pneumonia in mink.

The effects of common protective antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain N10 (serotype 5) and OEP plus toxoids of protease and elastase from P. aeruginosa strains IFO 3080 and IFO 3455 were studied during an enzootic of hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa serotype 3 in mink. The overall mortality rate in non-vaccinated mink was 24.8% (524 mink). It was highest in male kittens, followed by female kittens and adults. OEP (1,000 millimicrong) plus toxoids (each 1,000 millimicrong of protease toxoid and elastase toxoid) was significantly protective in every stable or farm regardless of sex or age. It was also effective in a stable where the vaccine was administered 12 days after the onset of the disease. OEP (1,500 millimicrong) alone produced a similar effect in a majority of mink, but was less effective in some stables. OEP plus toxoids was significantly more effective than OEP alone in protecting mink against hemorrhagic pneumonia due to P. aeruginosa.