Determining the outcomes of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyosynoviae by identifying optimal application times

Abstract

A swine-specific bacterial microorganism that is commensal in nature but has also been proven to be pathogenic and cause disease is Mycoplasma hyosynoviae (M. hyosynoviae). The most common clinical sign associated with M. hyosynoviae infection is lameness in growing and finishing pigs and breeding stock. Lameness in swine has been identified as both a welfare and economic disadvantage in swine production. Thus, there is a need to investigate control and prevention measures against M. hyosynoviae in commercial conditions. Identifying the natural humoral immune response to M. hyosynoviae and then evaluating effect of an intervention strategy is key to improve swine health and production. Therefore, the following studies involved detection of natural M. hyosynoviae antibodies in commercial herds to hypothesize exposure timing to M. hyosynoviae in field conditions. Also, a preventative tool, namely an autogenous vaccine, was applied to both sows and piglets at different timepoints to evaluate production and clinical outcomes. Across three different commercial herds, sows were detected positive for M. hyosynoviae antibodies at the highest levels when compared to piglets and replacement gilts. Additionally, M. hyosynoviae antibodies tended to wane at approximately eight weeks of age in the nursery phase in all herds. The vaccination study indicated no differences in weights, regardless of sow or piglet vaccination status. The odds of developing lameness were shown to be lower in all vaccinated piglets, compared to non-vaccinated pigs. Overall, these investigations shed light on M. hyosynoviae host response and clinical presentation in current swine production, and the potential opportunities to apply vaccination to reduce M. hyosynoviae-associated lameness.