Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae eradication

using segregated early weaning

Science Assumptions re Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Mycoplasma pneumonia				Sows remain infected all their lives
				Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae colostrum antibodies remain for 14 day post-consumption
				M. hyopneumoniae can be killed with Tulathromycin, Tilmicosil, Tiamulin or Chlortetracycline
				M. hyopneumoniae can be eliminated by cleaning of an offsite nursery
				The absence of M. hyopneumoniae antibodies and negative PCR is an effective diagnostic tool at 10 weeks of age
				Source of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae negative pigs is available.
				Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae only spreads 3 km between farms
Sow preparation programme
8 weeks pre-farrowing
		Vaccinate the sows. The success of the programme relies on colostrum antibodies and the key to this is vaccination. Ensure vaccines are stored properly and administered using a 1.5 inch 16 gauge needle.
		Vaccinations that are possible are, APP, Atrophic rhinitis (toxin), Clostridia, E. coli, Erysipelas, Haemophilus parasuis, Lawsonia intracellularis, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, PRRSv (dead), SIV and PCV2
		Provide the sows with feedback – using nursery faeces and diarrhoea from the farrowing house.
4 weeks pre-farrowing
		Repeat the vaccine and feedback programme
2 weeks pre-farrowing
		Provide in-feed medication of Tilmicosin 400g/tonne and Chlorotetracycline 800g/tonne to the sows until the piglets are weaned at 10 days of age.
7-5 days pre farrowing
All sows must be healthy
Move into farrowing house
General bacteria			Tetracycline long acting		30mg/kg injection using a 16G 1.5" needle intramuscularly into the neck
Weaner programme
Day of life
1	Iron					200 mg injection by a 21G 5/8" needle intramuscularly into the neck
	Colostrum					Artifical colostrum – possibly using cow colostrum, 50 ml per piglet at 10 ml doses
2	Avomectin					300 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle subcutaneously into the neck
	Ceftiofur					5 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle intramuscularly into the neck
	Enrofloxacin					Oral medicator – 10mg (not legal in the USA)
4	Toltrazuril					7mg/kg oral dose – to control coccidiosis
5	Ceftiofur					5 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle intramuscularly into the neck
9	Ceftiofur					5 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle intramuscularly into the neck
10	Weaned move to the off-site nursery - note biosecurity of truck and site
Post weaning
	Tiamutin 12.5% solution					180 ppm through the water supply supplied for the first 7 days post weaning
	Chlortetracycline					800 g per tonne of creep feed, to be fed for 21 days post-weaning
	Tilmicosin					400g per tonne of creep feed, to be fed for 21 days post-weaning
	Avomectin					300 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle subcutaneously into the neck
	Tulathromycin					2.5 mg/kg by a 21G 5/8" needle intramuscularly into the neck

Testing the pigs
Deaths		All deaths should be post-mortemed
Diarrhoea		Investigate all cases of diarrhoea
Coughing		Investigate all cases of coughing and sneezing. Note Post-weaning sneezing may occur
10 weeks of age		The pigs should be tested to ensure that they are negative. Ensure that the testing does not detect maternal colostrum antibodies.
Sentinel		Place known negative gilts into contact with grow/finish pigs and blood test after one month. Note any coughing experienced by these gilts.
Move the pigs to the grow/finish farm
	Assuming all the pigs are negative, move the pigs to the new grow/finish operation. If there is any question over the health of the pigs, they must not be moved to the new farm.

Note:

With Tulathromycin now available (Draxxin) this can be an extremely useful product to assist in the elimination of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

This can be used at weaning to provide 9 days of cover. It is possible to inject all the pigs on the farm with Tulathromycin on two occasions 9 days apart and effect a M. hyopneumoniae elimination programme.