Autovaccine/Herd-specific Vaccine

General informations

Chronic recurrent infections in pets and domestic animals are not uncommon and often lead to an increased resistance of the pathogens involved because of prolonged antibiotic therapies. When considering alternative methods of treatment, autovaccines are often mentioned, which have successfully been used in human and veterinary medicine for quite some time. These are customised vaccines that are produced for each individual animal from its own aerobic bacterial flora.

Production of an autovaccine is always based on a microbiological examination during which the causative pathogen is isolated. It is multiplied in pure culture and then inactivated. The specific composition of the vaccine, such as concentration of germs, method and amount of application, depends on the preliminary report and the animal species. In general you have to differentiate between the local and the systemic application of autovaccines. Injection vaccines that are given subcutaneously are especially recommended in case of skin infections, particularly with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, for respiratory diseases, otitis, etc. If the nasopharyngeal area is affected, the autovaccine can also be prepared for use as an aerosol. Infections of the urogenital tract can be treated more effectively with combination vaccines, that are either used orally or systemically. Oral vaccines are administered in all gastrointestinal infections associated with chronic diarrhoea. The aim of  the treatment is to sensitise the immune system against the causative pathogen or against its metabolites and to stimulate it to produce specific antibodies. Thus, the present infection is fought off and reinfection is prevented.

The production of secretory IgA results in the mucosal barrier being “sealed”.

Regarding the problem of watery stools in horses, very good results have been achieved with the autovaccine.