In field evaluation of impact on clinical signs of an inactivated autogenous vaccine against Pasteurella multocida in rabbits

In Italy, the use of autogenous inactivated vaccines prepared with the bacterial strains isolated from affected animals is authorized by the Ministry of Health in farms where bacterial diseases occur frequently. The autogenous vaccine performed using Pasteurella multocida is frequently used in rabbit farms, but the feedback of its application is not available. Therefore, the aim of this study is to give information about the impact on the clinical signs of a bivalent autogenous vaccine in rabbits of a genetic centre. The vaccine was prepared using two P. multocida strains belonging to serogroups A and F, equipped with virulence genes and responsible for cyclical outbreak of pasteurellosis in the farm. The vaccine was administered with a first injection, followed by another one after 15 days, then another one four months after the first injection, and then continuing with a further injection every six months to all rabbits. Clinical conditions and mortality rates were monitored for two years after the first vaccination. The improvement in clinical condition and the decrease of the mortality rate were significant especially in the first year post-vaccine. In addition, the number of animals removed due to the disease decreased greatly. Based on the finding of P. multocida strains belonging to serogroup D and serogroup A equipped with different virulence-gene patterns from those previously found, we suggest that the vaccine was unable to prevent the introduction and spreading of new strains among the rabbits.