Vaccination against swine enzootic pneumonia under field conditions in different housing and environmental conditions

Abstract

The efficacy of Respisure (Pfizer AH, USA), a vaccine against M. hyopneumoniae, was tested in pigs kept under good, moderate and poor housing conditions, respectively. The immune response, daily weight gain (DWG), lung lesions, and some parameters of meat important for production were examined. A total of 2.210 pigs from three different farms were used. One group of 1.105 piglets was vaccinated at the ages of 1 and 3 weeks. The second group of 1.105 piglets was used as a control. A total of 132 pigs were investigated in detail. ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) showed that antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae were formed on day 28 after the second vaccination in all vaccinated pigs. In control groups on the farms with moderate and poor housing seroconversion to M. hyopneumoniae antibodies started at 49 and 91 days of age, respectively. Vaccination and housing conditions, taken separately, had significant effects on DWG and lean meat percentage (p <0.05). Vaccination was equally effective in all studied housing conditions (p = 0.93). Similarly, vaccination very significantly reduced lung lesions (p<0.0001). We conclude that Respisure is a highly effective vaccine against swine EP (enzootic pneumonia). We also conclude that it is equally effective in pigs kept under good and poor housing conditions.