Use of Vaccines in Swine Diseases Control in Israel

Abstract

Vaccination is an important measure for controlling infectious diseases in pig production systems, and useful to prevent not only diseases spreading among animals but also the potential zoonotic risks associated with some of the swine diseases such as in the case of Leptospirosis. Although pig vaccination has never been a standard practice in Israel, during the last 20 years the situation has changed with an increased availability of vaccines. Vaccination protocols need to consider the different production phases (breeding-reproduction with gilts, sows, boars and fattening phase) and to follow the specific guidelines addressing each different circumstance. In addition, the animals’ environment, the geographical location and the epidemiology of diseases should be considered during the planning of a vaccination protocol in pigs. The purposes of this review was to evaluate and describe (i) the vaccines available in Israel for controlling pig infectious diseases,
(ii) route of administration [intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), intradermal (ID), oral (OR)] commonly used, and (iii) to compare vaccines availability in Israel in relation to the local pig  diseases epidemiology.

Keywords: Swine; Pig Vaccination; Breeders; Fatteners; Recommendations; Israel.

Introduction

In Israel the pig production is limited to overall 25 farms that produce approximately 170-200,000 pigs per year (1, 2) which are located in three well defined areas in the Country. 
Specifically, one farm is located in the Negev District (Kibbutz Lahav), with around 1,000 sows and 19,000-20,000 pigs produced per year, while the other 24 farms are situated in the Northern District (1 farm in Fassuta, 23 farms in Ibblin), with a production of 150-180,000 pigs per year. In addition, there is another farm of 30 Sinclair (minipig) sows in Lower Galilee District (Yokneam) that produces purpose-bred laboratory pigs, not for human consumption.
Apart from the Sinclair pig farm mentioned above, all the other farms are close-cycle, or “breeding to slaughtering” farms, and therefore breeders of all the different stages of production (pregnant, lactating, at insemination), every phase of fattening (suckling piglets, weaners, growers,  fasteners), and boars for both natural and artificial insemination, are simultaneously present in these farms.

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