Use of 5-step process to control M. hyo in a Spanish farm

  • 10 minutes
  • Expertise article
  • J. Aparicio, S. Figueras, G. Abella, I. Hernández, E. Sánchez, V. Rodríguez
Add to my reading list Remove from my reading list

J. Aparicio1, S. Figueras2, G. Abella2, I. Hernández2, E. Sánchez2, V. Rodríguez2

1Veterinary advisor, España, 2Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health España S.A.U.

 

Introduction

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo) is the primary pathogen of enzootic pneumonia, a chronic respiratory disease in pigs. Infections with M. hyo are highly prevalent in almost all swine producing areas, and they cause significant economic losses due to increased medication use and decreased performance of the pigs. Moreover, M. hyo is also considered to be one of the primary agents involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC)1.

In order to control this disease Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has developed a systematic platform, known as the M.hyo 5-step process. The 5-step process consists of 5 basic steps: identify desired goals, determine current status, understand current constraints, develop solution options, implement and monitor the preferred solution. The aim of this study was to implement a control program to obtain a better knowledge of the dynamics of the infection and reduce the M.hyo colonization in piglets.

Materials and Methods

The 5 step process was conducted in a 250 sows 2-sites farrow- grower farm, located in Tarragona (Spain). The sow farm is PRRS, App, and M.hyo positive and piglets get vaccinated against PCV2 and M.hyo with FLEXcombo® (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH) at 3 weeks of age (woa). Every two weeks 250 pigs at the age of about 10 weeks are transferred to a fattening site (continuous flow). Historically, pigs are tested at 3 and 9 woa with ELISA kits (IDEXX) for PRRS, App and influenza.

In May 2018, pigs from 60-80kg onwards started coughing. The parameters registered in that fattening batch were 6% of mortality, 660g average daily gain (ADG) and 2.52 kg feed conversion rate (FCR). At that moment, the 5step process was implemented. The goal was to reduce clinical signs (dry cough) and to improve the productive parameters mortality rate, ADG and FCR. To determine the current status, 3 samples of oral fluids were taken at 14, 17 and 20 woa and tested by PCR for PRRS, PCV2, Influenza and App. In addition, 10 serum samples were taken at 5 woa and 20 serum samples at the end of the fattening period and tested for PRRS (IDEXX ELISA), App ( ApxIV ELISA), PCV2 (Ingenasa IgG/IgM ELISA), M.hyo (IDEXX ELISA) and Influenza (H1N1, H1N2, H3N2 HAH) (Figure1 and Table 1). Results clearly demonstrated that M.hyo control was not sufficient and it was decided to implement several measures to reduce the M.hyo colonization in piglets. These measures included: double M.hyo vaccination of gilts during the quarantine period, double M.hyo mass vaccination of sows within 4 weeks2, and peri-partal medication of sows with tiamulin (200ppm) over a period of 5 weeks. In addition, piglets received an extra M.hyo dose at 8 woa for a period of 6 weeks and some batches in the fattening unit were medicated with tilosine.

Figure 1: Positive oral fluids (%) at 14, 17 and 20 weeks of age.

Figure 1 Image

Table 1: Results of serum samples.

Table 1 Image

Results

In March 2019, only 10% of fatteners were positive to M.hyo (IDEXX ELISA), ADG was 743g and FCR and mortality rate were reduced to 2.38 and 1.9%, respectively. As before, pigs remained PRRS negative until the end of the fattening period.

Conclusions and Discussion

In the presented case, the application of the 5step process has helped to improve not only the productive parameters of the fattening pigs, but also the dynamics of M.hyo in the sow farm. A correct gilt acclimation against M.hyo is crucial to reduce the M.hyo colonization in weaned 3 piglets . The 5-step process approach allows a systematic approach to controlling the disease.

References

  1. E. Thacker , 2006. Diseases of swine 9th edition. Mycoplasma diseases pp701- 717.
  2. E. Díaz et al., Proceedings IPVS (2006): Using sow mass vaccination Mycoplasma protocols for the control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. p 136
  3. E.Fano, et al. 2006. The Canadian journal of Veterinary Research. Effect of M.hyo colonization at weaning on disease severity in growing pigs.