Effects of amoxicillin, ceftiofur, doxycycline, tiamulin and tulathromycin on pig humoral immune responses induced by erysipelas vaccination

Abstract

It addition to their antimicrobial properties, antibiotics can influence the host immune system (modulation of cytokine secretion, antibody production and T-cell proliferation). In the present study, the authors studied the effects of therapeutic doses of amoxicillin (AMX), ceftiofur (CEF), doxycycline (DOXY), tiamulin (TIAM) and tulathromycin (TUL) on the postvaccinal immune response after pigs had been vaccinated against erysipelas. Because humoral immunity is considered as the most important in the protection against swine erysipelas, the present study focused on the interactions between antibiotics and postvaccinal humoral immunity. One hundred and five, eight-week-old pigs of both sexes were used. Specific antibodies to the Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae antigen were determined using a commercial ELISA test. In pigs treated with DOXY or CEF or TIAM, a significant reduction in the number of positive pigs was observed four and six weeks after the second dose of vaccine, compared with the remaining vaccinated groups. In pigs treated with CEF, the ELISA score was significantly lower than in non-treated vaccinated pigs. While in vaccinated pigs treated with AMX or TUL, the ELISA score was significantly higher than in pigs treated with the remaining antibiotics and than in non-treated vaccinated controls. The results of the present study indicate that vaccination of pigs against erysipelas in the presence of antibiotics may result in a decrease (CEF, DOXY, TIAM) or enhancement (AMX, TUL) in the production of specific antibodies.

Changes in circulating lymphocyte subpopulations in pigs receiving therapeutic doses of ceftiofur and tulathromycin

“…This may have an unfavourable impact on the immune system response to infection and/or vaccination. This assumption is in accordance with the outcome of earlier studies conducted by Pomorska-Mól et al (21,22) in which therapeutic doses of ceftiofur during vaccination impaired post-vaccinal immune responses in pigs. The negative effect of ceftiofur, florfenicol, and enrofloxacin on B and T cell subsets was also found in another study on chicks, where results were similar to the present study (6).…”

“…Evidence of the proapoptotic effect of tulathromycin on leukocytes, enhanced efferocytosis process, and inhibition of LTB4 production has also been noted in A. pleuropneumoniaechallenged pigs (11). Beyond the pro-resolution effects, it has also been shown that tulathromycin promotes the post-vaccinal humoral immune response in pigs vaccinated against erysipelas (22).…”

“…In studies by Pomorska-Mól et al (21,22), ceftiofur hydrochloride administered in a recommended dose significantly decreased the production of specific antibodies against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and swine influenza virus (SIV). In pigs treated with ceftiofur and vaccinated at the same time against pseudorabies virus (PRV), a significant delay in the development of the humoral response as well as a reduction in the cellular immune response against PRV were observed (21).…”

Erysipelothrix Spp.: Past, Present, and Future Directions in Vaccine Research

“…In a similar study by a different group, using 105 8week old pigs, it was found that vaccination of pigs against erysipelas in the presence of antibiotics may result in a decrease (ceftiofur, doxycycline, tiamulin) or enhancement (amoxillin, tulathromycin) in the production of specific antibodies against Erysipelothrix spp. (106). In contrast, the use of ginseng as a coadjuvant has been shown to improve the antibody response of vaccination (109).…”

“…In experimentally vaccinated pigs, IgM and IgG responses can be demonstrated between 7 and 21 days post vaccination (136)(137)(138)(139)(140). A study using conventional pigs found that vaccination of pigs with a commercial inactivated vaccine in the presence of antibiotics may result in a decrease (ceftiofur, doxycycline, tiamulin) or enhancement (amoxicillin, tulathromycin) in the production of specific antibodies as measured by a commercially available E. rhusiopathiae ELISA (106). During assessment of a large vaccination program in various marine mammals by a modified FMIA, a mean 311-fold increase in the IgG antibody index was detected 14 days after the first booster vaccination (112).…”