New vaccine prevents disease related financial losses for farmers

First vaccine for the control of porcine Ileitis now available across Europe

Ingelheim/Germany, 13 October 2005 – Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health GmbH, announced today the pan-European launch of Enterisol® Ileitis, the first enteric vaccine to have received marketing authorization in the EU to improve pig’s weight gain and to reduce body weight variability. From now on, Enterisol® Ileitis is available in 19 European countries.

Ileitis (porcine proliferative enteropathy) is a common enteric disease of pigs which is transmitted by oral-faecal infection with the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis. The bacteria cause severe intestinal lesions, diarrhea and gut bleedings which can negatively affect the growth performance in fattening due to reduced weight gains, extra feed costs in growing pigs and increased body weight variation at slaughter.

Ileitis is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide which affects swine production. According to a diagnostic survey by McOrist in 20031, in up to 90% of farms at least one pig was diagnosed to be infected by Lawsonia intracellularis, whereas in a most recent study2, the prevalence is even higher (up to 100%). However, the majority of farms are infected sub-clinically i.e. without obvious symptoms, such as diarrhea or sudden deaths, as seen in the clinical form of the disease. Even these sub-clinical infections already affect farm economics negatively.

With Ileitis-affected pigs which are poorly gaining weight, the farmer faces considerable economic losses. The economic impact of clinical and sub-clinical forms of Ileitis is estimated to cost between €1.3 and €18.5 per affected pig depending on the severity and duration of the disease3,4.

Enterisol® Ileitis is approved for the active immunization of pigs against Lawsonia intracellularis throughout the European Union. All grow/finish pigs, breeding sows and gilts are licensed to be vaccinated with Enterisol® Ileitis.

The strength of this innovative modified live vaccine is its economic impact for the farmer. In pre-approval trials in Germany investigating the economic efficiency of Enterisol® Ileitis vaccination vs. control, it has been shown that the financial benefit for the farmer can be as high as €4 - 5 per slaughtered pig6.

“Enterisol® Ileitis does not only make good economic sense, it is also an essential complement to farm management tools targeting reduction of total antibiotics use in pig farms” says Dr. Hasenmaier, Head of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health GmbH. “This is particularly important in view of the phasing out of the few remaining antibiotic growth promoters used in the European Community by January 2006,” added Dr. Hans-Jürgen Leuchs, Member of the Board of Managing Directors, responsible for Animal Health.

In 2001, Enterisol® Ileitis has been launched in North America and is furthermore licensed in Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines.

Since 2001, approximately 100 million pigs have been vaccinated worldwide, establishing Ileitis control as an essential part of professional pig health management.

Enterisol® Ileitis is a further element in the company’s range of innovative swine vaccines (e.g. Ingelvac® PRRS MLV) and up-to-date animal health management solutions for the farmer and the veterinarian.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 144 affiliates in 45 countries and nearly 36,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2004, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 8.2 billion euro while spending nearly one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.

The Animal Health business is conducted in 20 countries including USA, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Mexico, the Nordic countries and Japan. Since 1954, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is contributing to an adequate supply of safe, nutritious food and is promoting the emotional and physical benefits arising from the human-animal bond.

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References:
1 McOrist, S., Barcellos, D.E., Wilson, R.J. (2003). Global patterns of Porcine Proliferative Enteropathy. The Pig Journal, 51, 26 - 35
2 Hardge, T.; C. Keller; R. Seinheuer; Ph. Tessier; J.M. Salleras; P. Rubio ; K. Vestergaard; G. Cluydts; V. Ceccarelli; M. Bugliesi; R. Schippers; K. Johnson; A. Henderson; I. Papatsas; E. Eichin; T. Trela, A. Bulay, C. Maala (2005): The prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis infection in Europe. Proc. of the 2nd Congress of the Asian Pig Veterinary Soc. September 19 – 21, 2005, Manila
3 Veenhuizen, M.F.; Elam, T.E.; Soenksen, N. ( 1998 ): The potential economic impact of porcine proliferative enteropathy on Theus swine industry. IPVS, 15th, Birmingham (Proceedings of the 15th Congress of the International Pig Veterinary Society, Birmingham, July 1998) page 64
4 McOrist, S.; Smith, S.H.; Green, L.E. ( 1997 ): Estimate of direct financial losses due to porcine proliferative enteropathy. Veterinary Record 140, 579 – 581
5 EC Regulation 1831, (2003). Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition. Journal of the European Union, L 268/29– L268/43
6 Hardge, T.; Elbers, K.; Langbein, U.; Schroeder, B. (2004): Ileitis prevention by oral vaccination – European experiences. The Pig Journal, 54, 17-34

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