Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) are the two most prevalent pathogens within swine production systems worldwide.
These pathogens have a significant impact on pig performance, as weight gain and feed conversion suffers during the vital grow/finish phase and treatment is needed for sick animals.
This in turn results in increased days to market, which disrupts pig flow, causing economic losses and higher animal treatment costs.
Found in several multi-factorial diseases, these two pathogens require interventions, such as vaccination, along with proper environmental and management strategies to control them.
PCV2 – a silent threat
PCV2 is such a ubiquitous virus in swine production systems that up to 100 % of pigs are seropositive for PCV2 at slaughter. It is associated with Porcine Circovirus Diseases (PCVD) and is a significant contributor to the Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC). Often present as subclinical infections during the growing phase, PCV2 silently threatens with poor growth performance in apparently healthy pigs, which may then intermittently shed the virus, keeping it circulating within the herd. PCV2 is present in pigs regardless of PCVD severity in the farm and there are always more subclinical pigs than clinical pigs.
M. HYO Intensifies Respiratory Disease
M. hyo is the primary initiator of enzootic pneumonia – a widespread and chronic disease in swine herds. M. hyo is also a common agent implicated in the development of PRDC. Because M. hyo damages the cilia in the lower respiratory tract, secondary viral and bacterial pathogens can more easily invade and infect the pig. For example, it increases the likelihood of disease caused by viral infections, such as PCV2.
The synergistic impact of immunosuppression and co-infection results in not only disease, but also a significant reduction in average daily weight gain (ADWG) in growing pigs.
Together They Are Stronger
Concurrent infection with PCV2 and M. hyo causes severe respiratory disease and lesions consistent with PRDC.
Impacting your bottom line
PCV2 and M. hyo are costly infections that negatively impact performance through:
- Increased mortality and culls
- Reduced ADWG
- Poor feed conversion
- Increased days to market
- Increased medication cost.
Intervention needed
To minimise the economic impact and effectively manage the health and well-being of growing pigs, swine veterinarians and pork producers routinely administer PCV2 and M. hyo vaccines. While this helps reduce shedding and disease, vaccination does not eliminate these resilient pathogens, so they remain persistent in the environment.
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