Effects of pre‐farrowing sow vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae on offspring colonisation and lung lesions

Abstract

This study investigated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae colonisation and lung lesions at slaughter in pigs from vaccinated (V) and non-vaccinated (NV) sows, in two herds (A and B). In each herd, two sow batches were V against M. hyopneumoniae with a commercial bacterin at six and three weeks before farrowing and two sow batches remained NV. From each sow batch, laryngeal swabs were collected from the litters of five primiparous sows at weaning and seven days post-weaning. All samples were tested for M. hyopneumoniae by nested PCR. In total, 488 piglets were sampled. At slaughter, the extent of Mycoplasma-like pneumonia lesions (lung lesion score (LLS)) was assessed. The colonisation rates with M. hyopneumoniae at weaning and seven days post-weaning were (V-A=14.2, NV-A=20.0 (P=0.225); V-B=0.9, NV-B=0.8 (P=0.948)) and (V-A=0.8, NV-A=7.0 (P=0.039); V-B=1.8, NV-B=2.5 (P=0.738)), respectively. The average LLS (in per cent) was V-A=15.5, NV-A=26.4 (P=0.021); V-B=9.7, NV-B=8.4 (P=0.541). In conclusion, in herd A, with a substantially higher level of piglet colonisation at weaning than herd B, offspring from V sows had a significantly lower colonisation rate seven days post-weaning and a significantly lower LLS at slaughter compared with the offspring of the NV sows. This implies that sow vaccination might be useful for control of M. hyopneumoniae infections, although significant results may not be achieved at all times (such as in herd B).

Associations between animal and herd management factors, serological response to three respiratory pathogens and pluck lesions in finisher pigs on a farrow-to-finish farm

“…Although it is difficult to compare with previous studies which report laboratory qualitative results (i.e. positive, suspect or negative) for disease classifications instead of antibody levels, our results are similar to those reported by Sibila et al [ 35 ] and Arsenakis et al [ 36 ] who did not find an association between sow parity and Mycoplasma colonisation in piglets during the lactation period. However, reports in the scientific literature regarding the associations between sow parity and transmission of Mhyo to their progeny are contradictory.…”

Associations between animal and herd management factors, serological response to three respiratory pathogens and pluck lesions in finisher pigs on farrow-to-finish farms

“…Although it is di cult to compare with previous studies which report laboratory qualitative results (i.e. positive, suspect or negative) for disease classi cations instead of antibody levels, our results are similar to those reported by Sibila et al [13] and Arsenakis et al [38] who did not nd an association between sow parity and Mycoplasma colonisation in piglets during the lactation period. However, reports in the scienti c literature regarding the associations between sow parity and transmission of Mhyo to their progeny are contradictory.…”

Associations between animal and herd management factors, serological response to three respiratory pathogens and pluck lesions in finisher pigs on a farrow-to-finish farm

“…Although it is di cult to compare with previous studies which report laboratory qualitative results (i.e. positive, suspect or negative) for disease classi cations instead of antibody levels, our results are similar to those reported by Sibila et al [35] and Arsenakis et al [36] who did not nd an association between sow parity and Mycoplasma colonisation in piglets during the lactation period. However, reports in the scienti c literature regarding the associations between sow parity and transmission of Mhyo to their progeny are contradictory.…”