Control of necrotising enteritis (Clostridium perfringens type C enterotoxemia) in piglets

Repeated vaccination of sows at an interval of at least three weeks and at the latest 14 days ante partum with a Clostridium perfringens type C toxoid vaccine (Xentocol(R) plus, Per-C-porc(R) and Covexin(R)) has proved to be successful for control of Necrotising Enteritis (NE) in suckling piglets. In large herds with stationary NE, a third vaccination three days post partum helped to reduce losses considerably. In potentially affected herds and herds with a known problem of NE, all sows should be vaccinated over a period of at least three years. For prevention of NE in suckling piglets, oral administration of penicillin for at least three days and starting on day 1 of life at a dosage of 40,000 to 100,000 I. E./piglet/day is the method of choice. In addition, oral administration of Lactobacillae and elimination of spores by combined disinfection (dimethylamine-ammonium chloride/glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde) showed to be effective. At a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, a concentration of spores of 10(5)/g feces is killed after three to four hours, In herds with a NE problem, regular cleaning, intermediate and final disinfection is mandatory.