A TISSUE-CULTURE VACCINE WITH LAPINIZED CHINESE (LC) STRAIN OF HOG-CHOLERA VIRUS (HCV)

The lapinized chinese (LC) strain of hog cholera virus (HCV), was adapted to grow in a cell line from minipig kidney (MPK) where it reached a titer, as determined by immunofluorescence, significantly higher than in rabbits. Inasmuch as the immune serum to HCV neutralized the culture-adapted virus, it was concluded that its antigenicity did not undergo any change after adaptation to MPK cells. The MPK-LC adapted virus (MPK-LC-HCV) showed also a higher immunogenic activity in rabbits, in comparison with the original LC virus. The MPK-LC-HCV protected pigs against challenge infection with virulent HCV. Thus, the vaccinated pigs did not show any clinical signs of disease, nor have they been responsible of virus shedding after they were exposed to the challenge infection 1 month or 6 and 11 months later. All vaccinated pigs seroconverted after vaccination and the antibody titers were on the same range of those reported in pigs vaccinated with the traditional vaccine prepared in rabbits. In the same pigs the antibody concentration underwent a booster effect following challenge infection. It was suggested the MPK-LC-HCV vaccine as an alternative product that might be used to prevent HCV infection.