A pilot comparative study of recombinant protein and whole-virus inactivated vaccines against porcine circovirus type 2 in conventionally reared pigs

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) causes porcine circovirus-associated disease, which is characterized by systemic wasting syndrome, including respiratory problems worldwide. Most commercial PCV2 vaccines are derived from recombinant capsid protein or inactivated whole-virus. We compared average daily weight gain, interferon-γ, and neutralizing antibody levels of a recombinant protein vaccine and an inactivated whole-virus vaccine in a pilot study. Both PCV2 vaccines showed similar effect on immunity against PCV2 and a better average daily weight gain was found in both vaccinated groups compared to non-vaccinated animals. •PCV2 vaccines are derived from recombinant capsid protein or inactivated whole virus.•There is no report has compared the efficacy between both types of PCV2 vaccines.•No difference of the effects between both vaccine types under field conditions.