bacterins

Bacterins are vaccines prepared from killed bacteria or from bacterial components that are used to stimulate an immune response without causing illness. They are designed to induce protective immunity against specific bacterial pathogens by presenting their antigens to the host immune system.

Manufacture typically involves growing the target organism and then inactivating it by chemical, physical, or irradiation methods, ensuring no viable bacteria remain while preserving antigenic structures. Bacterins may be used as whole-cell preparations or processed into purified components such as surface proteins or polysaccharides, often with adjuvants to boost immunogenicity.

Types and use: Whole-cell bacterins contain inactivated bacteria; subunit or component bacterins use selected antigens. They are widely employed in veterinary medicine to protect livestock and pets against diseases such as leptospirosis, bordetellosis, pasteurellosis, and other bacterial infections. Some products are polyvalent, covering multiple strains or species.

Efficacy and limitations: Protection depends on antigenic match with circulating strains and may be partial or short-lived, requiring booster vaccinations. Bacterins cannot cause disease, but may provoke local reactions or mild systemic responses. Rare adverse events can occur, including hypersensitivity.

Regulatory context: Production is subject to quality control to ensure complete inactivation, potency, and sterility. In many countries, bacterins are regulated as veterinary vaccines and must meet standards set by veterinary authorities before and during use in animals.