24 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | February 2024 HERD HEALTH useful for routine surveillance or monitoring of a group of pigs presumed to be negative for M. hyo. Serology is not useful in vaccinated herds because it cannot differentiate between animals that have been vaccinated and animals that have been infected. Treatment Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is among the more difficult bacteria to treat with antimicrobial drugs. Antibiotics can help to reduce the amount of Mycoplasma bacteria in the pigs, but antibiotic treatment alone will not eliminate infection completely. Antibiotics can also be used to treat secondary bacterial infections, which will help to reduce the severity of pneumonia. It is extremely important to work with your veterinarian to develop a treatment protocol for Mycoplasma infections because not all antibiotics will work against it. Control Vaccination is one option to help control Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae on an affected farm. Vaccines do not prevent the pigs from becoming infected but they can help reduce the severity of disease. Several different vaccines are available. Please consult a veterinarian if you are interested in vaccination to help determine which product to use and to develop a protocol for frequency and timing of administration based on the health challenges present on your individual farm. Reducing the effects of complicating factors can help reduce the severity of disease as well. Improving ventilation can reduce irritating dust and gases in the air that damage pigs’ airways. Reducing stocking density can help to reduce stress in the pigs as well and lower the amount of bacteria circulating in a given airspace. One of the most effective methods of control is avoiding mixing pigs of different age groups by implementing all-in-all-out production with thorough cleaning and disinfection between batches. It is important to control other bacteria and viruses; for example, Streptococcus suis, Pasteurella multocida, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, porcine circovirus (PCV) 2 and 3, and swine influenza virus. Prevention The key to preventing the introduction of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae into a herd is biosecurity. One of the most important routes of infection is pig-to-pig contact. Pigs can be carriers of Mycoplasma without showing any symptoms so it is important to quarantine and test any new additions to a herd under the direction of a veterinarian. Always try to obtain breeding stock from a source that is confirmed to be negative and minimize the number of sources supplying your farm. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae does not survive for long in the environment and is susceptible to most disinfectants, so showering in and out and disinfecting any incoming equipment should control the risk of the bacteria entering the farm through fomites. Being located in an area with many other pig farms close by may put a swine operation at a greater risk of being exposed to M. hyo. The bacteria can reportedly spread through the air (via aerosol) for up to three kilometres. Elimination It is sometimes possible to eradicate M. hyo from a pig herd, but it is not an easy feat. Methods of eliminating M. hyo will vary depending on the farm. Typically, the affected herd needs to be closed, meaning no entry of new pigs, for six Secondary bacterial infections are common with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Dr. Egan Brockhoff photo Doing something interesting on your farm? We want to know! Paul.Nolan@Farms.com TELL US WHAT YOU’RE UP TO
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