Case report: Identification of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection in a breeding herd through tracheo-bronchial swab monitoring

摘要

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo), the primary pathogen of enzootic pneumonia, occurs worldwide and causes major economic losses to the pig industry. The pathogen adheres to and damages the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract. Affected pigs show chronic coughing, are more susceptible to other respiratory infections and have a reduced performance.1 Piglets become infected with M hyo during the suckling period and have been shown positive from weaning onwards.2"7 Moreover, once infected with Mhyo, animals can excrete the pathogen over a long period of time, with total clearance lasting less than 254 days post-infection).8 This implies that infected gilts could carry M hyo across their first pregnancy well into their first lactation cycle, infecting their offspring with M hyo in early life.