Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae colonization patterns at various swine production stages

Abstract

Many microorganisms that are classified as commensal or ubiquitous can cause disease under specific circumstances. Several Mycoplasma species often fall into these categories, including Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae. Both bacterial species are considered commensal microorganisms of the upper respiratory tract and tonsils of pigs, and are ubiquitous in pig populations, yet capable of causing disease. In nursery age pigs, M. hyorhinis causes mainly polyserositis and arthritis, and M. hyosynoviae causes arthritis in pigs during the finishing stage. The identification of the origin of colonization, potential animal reservoirs, as well as the timeline of clinical presentation are important aspects in the epidemiology of infectious agents. The present series of studies focus on investigating the association of M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae colonization status of dams and piglets prior to weaning, and in the case of M. hyosynoviae colonization in replacement gilts and in pigs during the wean-to-finish stage.