BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) and Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are responsible for significant production and economic losses worldwide1, 2. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect on growth performance of the new intradermal vaccine MHYOSPHERE® PCV ID under field conditions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Seven farms with Mhyo and/or PCV2 circulation in previous batches were included in a multicentre, randomized, negative-controlled and blinded field trial. In total, 2,507 healthy 3-weeks-old piglets were distributed between two groups balanced by weight before vaccination. One group (n = 1,253) was vaccinated with MHYOSPHERE® PCV ID, whilst piglets from the other group (n = 1,254) received a placebo. A single dose of 0.2 ml was administered to both groups intradermally using Hipradermic®. A total of 100 animals/group/farm were weighed at 3 weeks of age (w), 9 w and before slaughter. Growth performance was evaluated through average daily weight gain (ADWG), final
body weight and culling rate before slaughter (< 75 kg).
RESULTS
Mhyo and/or PCV2 circulation was confirmed on all farms during the study. ADWG was higher in the MHYOSPHERE® PCV ID group from 3 w to the end of fattening (Table 1), with an improvement of 18 g/day (p = 0.0004, Linear Mixed Model considering the farm as a random effect).
Statistically significant differences were also detected in the culling rate just before slaughter with 5.2 % fewer underweight pigs (Figure 2) in the MHYOSPHERE® PCV ID group (p < 0.001, Chi-square Test).
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS
The new intradermal vaccine Mhyosphere® PCV ID is a useful tool to minimize productive losses due to Mhyo and/or PCV2-related diseases because it has a beneficial effect on growth performance, by reducing the loss of daily weight gain and culling rate due to Mhyo and/or PCV2 on commercial pig farms.
REFERENCES
1 Maes, D.; Sibila, M.; Kuhnert, P.; Segalés, J.; Haesebrouck, F.; Pieters, M.; Update on Transbound Emerg Dis. 2018 May;65.
2 Segalés, J.; Kekarainen, T.; Cortey, M.; Review Vet Microbiol. 2013 Jul 26;165(1-2):13-20.
