Effective vaccination is the foundation in high-performance pig units

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae are two pig pathogens with a worldwide distribution. Studies in Europe show that PCV2 is endemic in 100 per cent of farms while the figure for M. hyopneumoniae for Irish farms, north and south, is around 70 per cent.

Disease challenge

PCV2 disease, also called ‘wasting’ in growing pigs, causes variable signs but pigs may have a cough, raised temperature, diarrhoea and increased mortality. Affected pigs may look thinner and ‘hairier’ than their mates but not all pigs will have outward signs of disease. PCV2 infects white blood cells resulting in immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to other viral and bacterial diseases. This impaired immune response can also impact the effectiveness of vaccination programmes in young pigs.
Recently, the reduction in antibiotic use has highlighted issues with reproductive performance in sows, seen mainly as poor farrowing rates. Testing shows that some of these sows are infected with PCV2. An increase in the return to oestrous, reduced farrowing rate and an unexpected increase in weak born piglets should flag the consideration of PCV2, along with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), leptospirosis and porcine parvo virus infections as a cause, especially in gilts.
M. hyopneumoniae disease (enzootic pneumonia) usually results in chronic coughing, a low grumbling pneumonia and reduced performance in growing pigs. Transmitted by nose-to-nose contact, affected pigs remain infectious for up to 200 days and can take, on average, five days longer to reach slaughter weight compared to unaffected animals.
Both PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae are very significant players in porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), along with PRRS and swine influenza virus. The respiratory disease complex refers to the interaction of infectious agents, immunity, environment and management conditions that can result in pneumonia in pigs. Damage caused by respiratory disease also allows infection of the lungs by bacteria such as Pasteurella, Haemophilus parasuis, Streptococcus and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Protection through vaccination

Thankfully, PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae are also the diseases that are most commonly vaccinated against. In Ireland, the vaccination rate in piglets against PCV2 is approximately 95 per cent and for M. hyopneumoniae is approximately 73 per cent. Although most farms will already be vaccinating against these prevalent diseases, it is worth reviewing the importance of effective protection.
Because of the way that these diseases interact with other issues on farm, PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae vaccination should be considered the foundation of herd health. For farms wishing to reduce the use of antibiotics, this is especially important.
Piglets are commonly vaccinated against PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae at around three weeks of age. Vaccines are available individually and in combination. Combination vaccines (such as Porcilis PCV M Hyo) are convenient, labour-saving and can minimise pig handling and stress. This combination vaccine is mostly used as a single 2ml dose from three weeks of age but can also be given as a split dose from three days of age to provide protection in the event of poor maternal immunity and an early disease challenge. Onset and duration of immunity post-vaccination varies between the different commercial vaccines, so always speak to your vet about the vaccination schedule that is best for your farm.
Many farmers express concern that vaccination can temporarily affect performance and piglets can be ‘knocked back’. It is always best to use vaccines that are licensed for use together and they have been proven not to interact adversely. Farmers in Ireland have been successfully using this combined PCV M Hyo injection on Irish pig farms for the past eight years because of the very significant improvement in pig performance that it has been proven to produce.

Other diseases

Although PVC2 and M Hyo are Ireland’s most widely used vaccines in growing pigs, many farmers also routinely vaccinate against other diseases such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Like PCV2, PRRS is a viral disease that contributes to PRDC, but it can also have a profound effect on the piglet’s immune system, acting as a gateway to other viral and bacterial diseases. Vaccination with Porcilis PRRS can be given concurrently with Porcilis PCV M Hyo where this is needed.
Porcilis PCV M Hyo now has the added advantage that it can be mixed with Porcilis Lawsonia, which is used to reduce diarrhoea, weight loss, bacterial shedding and mortality associated with Lawsonia intracellularis, the cause of Ileitis in pigs. It has been proven to give effective protection against all three diseases in a single shot, giving farmers peace of mind that there will be no interactions or reduction in efficacy.
Vaccination is an economic decision as well as a welfare decision. Effective protection against common diseases has been proven to benefit production metrics and allow growing pigs to reach their genetic potential. Your vet will advise which vaccines can deliver the level and duration of protection that is right for your farm.