ELIMINATING M. HYO

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, or M. hyo, is a host-specific organism that only infects pigs. It is the primary agent of enzootic pneumonia, a chronic respiratory disease that can act as a gateway letting mixed respiratory infections from secondary pathogens into the pig’s system.

INFECTION PATHWAY

M. hyo is slow growing between 1 & 2, may be weeks to months; that is why piglets can be exposed preweaning but not show clinical signs until finishing phase.

Pigs in any age group can be infected by M. hyo, but infection dynamics do vary from farm to farm and are dependent on factors such as handling, type of housing, and production system. While transmission between herds occurs mainly through the introduction of infected animals, within a herd you can distinguish between vertical and horizontal transmission:

> Vertical transmission is from the sow to the offspring, typically nose-to-nose contact. Although the risk is lower than in younger sows, older sows may still transmit M. hyo to their piglets.

> Horizontal transmission is between pigs of the same or different pens by direct or indirect contact.

Economic losses from M. hyo-related swine respiratory disease (SRD) show up in reduced performance gains, uneven growth, more days needed to reach slaughter weight, treatment and control costs, and even increased mortality as a result of complicated infections.¹

BATTLING THE ENEMY

Because there is evidence of little genetic variability of M. hyo within swine production flows, this generally enables a successful herd-wide elimination program. Of all the elimination pathways, exposure and closure, along with medication, is the most prevalent and has proven the most successful long-term tactic. Though this is an economic investment, elimination has shown a good success rate when protocols are implemented correctly. Even if the breeding herd remains negative for only one year, the investment is still worthwhile due to the economic benefits downstream.²

Step 1. Determine status and prevalence of M. hyo in your breeding herd. Positive uncontrolled (I), Positive controlled (II), Unvaccinated (IIIA), Vaccinated (IIIB), Negative (IV)

Step 2 Develop your strategy. Work with your veterinarian to develop a plan to achieve your desired breeding herd status. The chief cost to consider in any elimination plan is usually herd closure (or stopping naive replacement gilt entry) and availability of replacement gilts.

Step 3 Load your replacement gilts. The third step requires 8-9 months of replacement gilts to be loaded into your breeding herd; you man also choose to stock an off-site gilt developer unit if space is limited. You want to allow for, at minimum, a 240-day (or 34-week) herd closure for cessation of pathogen shedding and development of immunity in your regular herd.

Step 4 Intentionally expose the herd. Expose the entire breeding herd - including replacement gilts - to M. hyo. This also means exposure to any replacement gilt intended to enter the herd over the following 8-9 months.

Step 5. Verify Exposure. Approximately four weeks following the intentional exposure, you need to verify herd exposure, if all diagnostic samples are positive for M. hyo, your elimination plan may proceed. If not, you will need to have to start over with your veterinarian for new exposure materials.

MONITORING THE CLOSE

During herd closure, focus on the progression of M. hyo through the breeding animals. Observe clinical signs to alleviate symptoms with strategic medication programs as directed by your veterinarian. Other management practices can also be implemented at this time to minimize transmission of M. hyo from breeding herd to nursing piglets^10,11 and assist in reducing disease in later grow-finish during the elimination.

A combination of biosecurity and persistence is necessary to see this pathogen eliminated from the breeding herd. Success is defined when pigs emerging from the naive replacement gilts reach late grow-finish and pre-market stage (about six months after completion of herd closure) and M. hyo clinical signs are lacking, along with minimal medication interventions.

Talk to your herd veterinarian and our Elanco Technical Consultant on medication program options.

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• Swine intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 5 days from the last treatment.

• The effects of Increxxa on porcine reproductive performance, pregnancy, and lactation have not been determined.

• Intramuscular injection can cause a transient local tissue reaction that may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter.

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• 250 mL and 500 mL: Use within 2 months of first puncture and puncture a maximum of 100 times. If more than 100 punctures are anticipated, the use of multi-dosing equipment is recommended. When using a draw-off spike or needle with bore diameter larger than 16 gauge, discard any product remaining in the vial immediately after use.

*Clinical Relevance Unknown.

¹Maes D, et al. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Martelli P, Segalés i Coma J, Torremorell M, et al. Swine respiratory disease. Servet Editorial - Grupo Asís Biomedia. ISBN: 9788417225865, 2019. pp. 67.

²Silva GS, Yeske P, Morrison RB, et al. “Benefit-cost analysis to estimate the payback time and the economic value of two Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae elimination methods in breeding herds.” Preventative Veterinary Medicine. 2019;168:95-102.

³Clavijo MJ, Galina L, Holtkamp D, et al. Establishing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae herd status classification criteria for breeding herds. J Swine Health and Production. 2021; 29 (6): 319-326.

⁴Robbins RC, Betlach A, Mondragon-Evans M, et al. Development of a herd-specific lung homogenate for exposure to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae under field conditions. J Swine Health and Production. 2019; 27 (4): 221-227.

⁵Brockmeier SL, Halbur PG, Thacker EL. Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex. Polymicrobial Diseases. Washington (D.C.): ASM Press: 2002. Chapter 13. Accessed January 2021.

⁶Villarino et al. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin: a pulmonary perspective. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2014;37(3):211–21.

⁷O’Connor AM, Toon SC and Shane D. A systematic review and network meta-analysis of injectable antibiotic treatment options for naturally occurring swine respiratory disease. J Swine Health Prod. 2019;27(3): 133-49.

⁸Rossow, K.D. South Dakota State University. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. The American College of Veterinary Pathologists 1998; 35: 1-20.

⁹Blais, J. Intracellular accumulation of tilmicosin in primary swine alveolar macrophages. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 1994.

¹⁰Holst S, Yeske P, Pieters M. Elimination of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from breed-to-wean farms: A review of current protocols with emphasis on herd closure and medication. J Swine Health and Production. 2015; 23 (6):321-330.

¹¹McCaw, M. B. “McREBEL™ PRRS: Management Procedures for PRRS Control in Large Herd Nurseries.” Proc Allen D. Leman Swine Conference. 1995; 161-162.

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