2.2.2. Field study
A GCP field safety study was done in young piglets according to
a randomized and blinded design in two pig farms in The
Netherlands and one in Germany. In each farm, at least 56 healthy
three-week-old suckling piglets aged 17–24 days were allocated
randomly to one of two groups. The piglets in one group (vaccine)
were vaccinated with Porcilis PCV M Hyo and the piglets in the
other group (control) were injected with sterile buffered saline.
The general health of the piglets was checked at admission (one
day before vaccination), just before vaccination, 1 and 4 h after
vaccination and daily for 14 days. One day before vaccination, just
before vaccination, 4 h after vaccination and daily for 4 days after
vaccination, the rectal temperature of all piglets was measured.
The injection site was examined for local reactions by palpation
at 1 and 4 h after vaccination and then daily for 14 days. All study
piglets were weighed individually at admission (day-1) and at the
end of the study 3 weeks post vaccination (wpv).