[Performance parameters and pathogen detection in pig groups differently vaccinated with respect to Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae].

Objective: Respiratory diseases, mostly multifactorial, cause problems in pig farms worldwide. Next to infectious agents, such as Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) and () management, housing, and environmental factors are decisive for the development of disease. In a conventional, closed swine farm in Lower Saxony, Germany, which did not vaccinate against PCV2, the effect of an implementation of PCV2 vaccination (Suvaxyn Circo + MH RTU) onto animal health was evaluated. In addition, the effect of this combination vaccine was assessed in comparison to simultaneous administration of mono-vaccines against PCV2 and MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a two-phase trial, 524 (phase 1) or 521 (phase 2) clinically healthy piglets were included at the first week of life. In the first phase, performance parameters were compared in animals vaccinated against only (group A) or vaccinated against PCV2 and (group B). In phase 2, vaccination against PCV2 and with different vaccines were compared (groups C and D). Performance parameters included lifetime animal losses, daily weight gains during suckling, weaning and fattening, and randomly sampled pathogen loads in serum (PCV2) or tracheobronchial secretions In addition, an assessment of the lungs was performed after slaughter.

Results: In the first phase, it was shown that the group vaccinated against PCV2 (Group B: Suvaxyn Circo + MH RTU) had higher daily growth rates during the fattening period (+ 37 g, p = 0.012) as well as during the complete period (+ 16 g, p = 0.013) in comparison to the group without PCV2 vaccination (Group A). In group A a significantly higher proportion of animals showed a PCV2 viremia. In the second phase, it was shown that group D was not inferior to the established vaccination regiment of group C. In fattening pigs in week 22 of life, detection rates for in tracheobronchial secretions were in the range of 27-80 % irrespective of the vaccination group.

Conclusion: Vaccination against PCV2 leads to improved animal health and higher daily weight gains.

Clinical Relevance: The combined vaccine studied here provides farmers and veterinarians with an additional option for the improvement of animal health in pig production.