The effect of gilt flow management during acclimation on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae detection

By
Jim Eadie
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Today, we are sharing a recent publication from the MycoLab investigating how two different gilt flow managements during acclimation impact Mycoplasma detection. The full publication is available on the journal’s website.

Highlights

  • Two strategies were evaluated for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae gilt acclimation.
  • M. hyopneumoniae detection and seroconversion were assessed in gilts over time.
  • Similar M. hyopneumoniae detection pattern was observed regardless of gilt flow.
  • M. hyopneumoniae seroconversion was similar regardless of gilt flow.
  • Genetic variability of M. hyopneumoniae was not significant in gilts.
Timeline for sample collection and gilt location at each farm and each sampling event. GDU: Gilt Development Unit. Doa: Days of age. White bar areas correspond to the exposure time when gilts were housed in the GDUs. Patterned bar areas correspond with housing in the gestation barns. Black bar areas correspond to farrowing barns.
read the full article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) detection and seroconversion patterns in recently acclimated gilts to be introduced to endemically infected farms using different types of replacement management. Three gilt developing units (GDUs) belonging to sow farms were included in this investigation: two farms managed gilts in continuous flow, and one farm managed gilts all-in/all-out. Two replicates of 35 gilts each were selected per GDU and sampled approximately every 60 days for a total of four or five samplings, per replicate and per GDU. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae was evaluated by PCR, while antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA assay. Also, M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability was evaluated using Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae was similar across GDUs. Although a significant proportion of gilts was detected positive for M. hyopneumoniae after acclimation, an average of 30.3 % of gilts was negative at any point during the study. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae antibodies was similar among GDUs regardless of flow type or vaccination protocol. The genetic variability analysis revealed a limited number of M. hyopneumoniae types within each GDU. Results of this study showed a similar pattern of M. hyopneumoniae detection by PCR and seroconversion by ELISA among GDUs, regardless of the type of flow management strategies applied to gilts.

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