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VGX Animal Health is currently working on several registrations with Australia being the furthest advanced, with market approval granted in January 2008. Because of its characteristics, plasmid-mediated growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) has emerged as an excellent candidate for agricultural applications to increase animal health and welfare, while improving on production parameters within physiological parameters. Animals that are healthier maintain a good average daily gain in the face of microbial challenge. Recent results in pigs have demonstrated that when pregnant animals are administered plasmid-mediated GHRH supplementation, they gave birth to healthier offspring. The offspring from these treated pigs demonstrated a decrease in mortality of 57% compared to offspring from untreated animals and the morbidity was substantially reduced suggesting the potential for discontinuation of routine antibiotic treatments. Piglets from treated gilts are larger at birth and weaning compared to controls and reach market weight earlier (P < 0.001) Pigs treated with a plasmid-mediated GHRH delivered by electroporation, prior to vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumonia (M. hyo), demonstrated protection from clinical disease following a M. hyo challenge. Average daily gain between challenge and necropsy was improved (P = 0.04). Respiratory scores tended to be lower, coughing scores were improved, and macroscopic lesions associated with M. hyo infection pneumonia were fewer in pigs that received the GHRH treatment. These results concur with studies in other species which have shown a positive effect on the immune system of treated animals. Collectively the results we have obtained in our pig studies indicate that the myogenic GHRH-expressing plasmid was successfully delivered to pregnant gilts using an IM injection followed by electroporation and resulted in greatly improved production, viability and general welfare of the treated animals and their offspring. |
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