Effect of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in a pig herd from birth to slaughter

Abstract

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae remains an important pathogen in swine industry. The aim of the present work was to assess M. hyopneumoniae vaccine from viewpoint of antibodies formation, health, daily weight gain, quality of meat and lung lesions. The investigation was carried out on forty four cross-bred 7-day-old piglets free from M. hyopneumoniae refection. Twenty two piglets were vaccinated intramuscularly. The other group of twenty two piglets was used as a control (unvaccinated). The results showed that in both groups the antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were not formed before vaccination. Antibodies against enzootic pneumonia in the vaccinated group were formed after fourteen days from the second vaccination and remained present until day 77. It was observed that in unvaccinated group antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae had not been formed. Pigs with artificially acquired active immunity from vaccination achieved higher daily weight gain, growth rate, fattening and finishing weight, improved quality of meat and decreased pneumonia lesions than the pigs in the control group.