Experiences on Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae Elimination on Farrow-to-Wean Farms Bill Minton DVM. Four Star Veterinary Service LLC. Chickasaw, OH
Applications of Disease Eliminations WHY? Unwanted Guests PRRS virus; Mycoplasma; Flu (IAV) Cost of Production & Productivity Losses Multiple Health Challenges Treatment & Control Medications Costs Vaccines Antibiotics; Feed, Water & Injectables Movements; segregation costs, delays Staff & Grower Frustration for Success
Discuss Options for M.Hyo Elimination Why? Economics of Production; cost of respiratory disease Other disease challenges influence of Mhp Mixing flows; load barns faster Gilt management; entry of select age Neg. animals Genetics How? Internal vs. External Off site breed project When? ASAP Seasonal influence Gilt availability
Determine Herd Status Unstable herd Naïve recently exposed Sow herd is clinical; Gilt introduction causes exposure Stable Vaccinated herd Gilt introduced are Positive / stable Testing required to determine population status Frequency Areas of the site / barns Vaccine in use?
M.Hyo the organism Slow growing Lives in Epithelium of Airways (the lining) difficult for immune system to recognize lengthens the time for Antibody response Culturing is complicated not easy to consistently find in the pig overgrowth, fastidious nature PCR testing collection is unpredictable unless using lung tissue
M.Hyo Serology testing 1. IDEXX Indirect ELISA Highly Specific >99.0% Sensitivity 92.23% > 28d (Ameri Mahabadi vaccine study) 2. DAKO (Oxoid) ELISA Competitive or Blocking Highly Specific >99.0% Better Sensitivity 98.3% > 28d (Ameri Mahabadi vaccine study)
Deep Tracheal testing Accurate ID of organism Rapid detection after exposure Confirms presence of the organism Determines individual animal status PCAI catheter
Herd Closure / Medication program Exposure of ALL females to Mhp. incl. replacement gilts Closure of herd for 8 months (34 weeks) Whole herd vaccination Mhp Whole herd medication Sow herd & replacement gilts Piglets in farrowing
Exposure? Closing the Population Cull sow removal necessary culls to create add l space Then restrict culling Loading sow site +/ GDU Breeding age gilts Front end load Replacements Age; balanced breeding groups Overload the bottom end Rapid herd exposure Mixing; Fogging: roaming in aisle ways Off site breeding Prepare for delay of incoming Neg. gilts Sow herd medication Needed if signs become severe during exposure and cool down period
M.Hyo Preparing homogenate
M.Hyo controlled exposure Fogging technique with prepared homogenate Direct the fogger just over the top of the pigs Get pigs up & keep active increase respiratory rate
Fogging
Verify Exposure Surveillance Frequency; Intensity; find the Negatives Every 2 weeks Sow unit, GDU, Growing replacement gilts Procedures Serology, Tracheal swabs, Necropsy, Oral fluids Map the barn sites Mhp IDEXX negative distribution Enhancing Exposure Seeder animals Inoculation Lung Homogenate Movements Population subsets Take advantage of projects with a new or recent exposure
Timelines Establish Time Zero Nearly all animals exposed Target 90% of population; all ages represented Determine ASAP Start the Clock! Communicate often Easy to lose track of time for key actions Elimination Plan w/ task lists to complete Off site breed project Design the Timelines Managing multiple populations & sites Sow unit, Quarantine / isolation, GDU Determine Neg. Gilt sourcing Entry date Location to be housed Biosecurity
Vaccinations for M.Hyo Elimination Delayed Allow sites to expose and spread When to start? Differing opinions Early after exposure Midterm of project Which product & protocol Product Preference Multiple doses Last whole herd Vx. given 2 3 weeks prior to mass medication Manage severity of clinical signs during exposure w/ Vaccines & Antibiotics Especially in naïve herd exposure Growing replacement gilts vaccinate early Monitor mortality Breeding performance
Medication Considerations: Early during Exposure if clinical signs are severe Monitor coughing, mortality, off feeds, estrus activity, breeding Late in Final Weeks of Closure All animals Last 3 4 weeks of closure period Antibiotic choice Efficacy Cost Feed vs. Water Logistics of administration Injectable Piglets Off feed animals
Medication Choices Injectable Draxxin (Zoetis) Piglets 1.1mg/lb. at birth and 10 days of age. Syringeable; Efficacy; Duration of activity Feed Pulmotil (Elanco) Pulmotil AC has label for M.hyo in presence of PRRSv. Lactation 181 gm/ton 4 wks. prior to opening farm Gestation 363 gm/ton 3 wks. prior to opening farm Sow / piglet levels of Tilmicosin (Pulmotil) equal Works well against Mhp. & other pathogens Production benefits w/ piglets
Timeline Sept.16 Calendar Project Week Week 50 12 First suspicious serological evidence 51 11 Diagnostic confirmation Mhp in sow herd, 18Dec.15 2 8 All replacement gilts assembled. Gilt exposure period begins 6 4 Exposure confirmed by Dx: 89% sow herd 9 1 Exposure confirmed by Dx: 43% GDU 10 0 Exposure considered complete start 36 weeks of immunity. 11 1 Exposure confirmed by Dx: 89% sow herd 12 2 Feed grade medication to sow herd 2wks (routine/quarterly) CTC 400 lactation, 1500 gestation 13 3 Exposure confirmed by Dx: 93% sow herd, 86% Isolation, 75% GDU 15 5 Exposure confirmed by Dx: 95% sow herd, 100% Isolation, 96% GDU 19 9 First whole herd Mhp vaccination sow herd and GDUs, RespiSure Mhp only 23 13 Second whole herd Mhp vaccination sow herd and GDUs, Mhp/Circo combination Continue to monitor piglets: Laryngeal swabs, necropsy 25 15 Feed grade medication to sow herd 2wks (routine/quarterly) CTC 400 lactation, 1500 gestation 38 28 Feed grade medication to sow herd 2wks (routine/quarterly) CTC 400 lactation, 1500 gestation 40 30 Third whole herd Mhp vaccination sow herd and Mhp positive replacements 42 46 33 36 Increased pressure to eliminate ANY remaining Mhp 42 33 Begin Pulmotil (Tilmicosin) in sow feed 42 33 Inject piglets Draxxin (tulathromycin) at 1 and 10 days of age 42 33 Wean piglets early, maximum wean age = 19 days 46 36 Medicating Program discontinued end of this week 47 37 Immunity considered complete, shedding stopped. Mycoplasma NEG. pigs born 49 39 Can introduce Mhp neg. sentinels to sow herd 49 39 Begin weaning at normal age, stop piglet medications 49 39 Begin weaning into new/empty barn 49 39 Begin monitoring phase of project sentinels and weaned pig flow
Confirm Negative Status: Maintain & Test Sentinels on sow farm Observe for clinical signs of Mhp. coughing Diagnostics on sick or dead pigs Monitor downstream pig flow serology, deep tracheal swabs, necropsy TIME.. Evaluate oldest NEG. pigs at market age Project Successful!!!
My non Negotiables' Day 0 must be ~90% Pos. Mhp Elisa testing, frequency, methods Modified McREBEL procedures Farrowing No pig movement between rooms & AIAO Timing of piglet injections critical Wean age compliant no exceptions!
Thank You! A Special Thank You: Dr. Bethany Heitkamp Four Star Veterinary Service Dr. Terri Specht Heimerl Farms Dr. Jer Geiger PIC N. America Dr. Maria Clavijo PIC N. America Dr. Jean Paul Cano PIC N. America Dr. Kevin Eggers Elanco Bruce Ervin Elanco Jon Jordan Elanco