Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Research: Potential Breakthrough in Enzootic Pneumonia Vaccine
Respiratory diseases are rampant in pig farming, and one of the most common and costly ailments is swine enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyop). Recent developments, however, offer hope for the development of a new vaccine that could provide protective immunity and halt its spread.
Funding for this research has been secured from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) will undertake the investigation of bacterial genes necessary for the disease, hoping to pave the way for the creation of effective vaccines.
It is estimated that M.hyop is present in approximately 80% of swine herds, resulting in a significant reduction of growth by 16% and feed conversion by 14%, presenting both welfare and economic challenges for farmers.
Susceptibility to M.hyop occurs when piglets come into close contact with infected and vulnerable pigs, often during lactation. This places piglets at significant risk of developing the respiratory disease, as well as secondary infection from other pathogens.
Currently, there are no commercial vaccines available for preventing initial M.hyop infection. Although antibiotics can be employed for treatment, their use must be minimized to avoid potential resistance in the future.
Professor Dirk Werling, part of the RVC research team, expressed his satisfaction regarding the funding, stating, “Infection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a really debilitating disease in pigs that causes huge economic losses for farmers. I am very pleased that we will be able to continue working with a pharmaceutical partner to develop a new vaccine using state-of-the-art technologies.”
This research builds upon previous studies funded by the BBSRC and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which identified essential genes for the pathogen’s survival in pigs and isolated bacterial strains from UK pigs.
In other news, Compassion in World Farming has released a report calling for significant reforms within the industrial farming sector to address the spread of avian flu.
Overall, this groundbreaking research into Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae offers promising prospects for the development of a swine enzootic pneumonia vaccine. This breakthrough has the potential to alleviate the financial burden on farmers while improving animal welfare standards in the food manufacturing industry.
Source: [Food Manufacture Link]
