Progression of mycoplasma infection

Very strict measures need to be put in place if enzootic pneumonia is to be eradicated from the herd. This is often impractical.

Over recent years, vaccination has become established as the most effective way to reduce the consequences of M. hyo infection - both in terms of animal health and productivity. Vaccination controls the clinical and economic effects of the disease although infection is not eliminated from the herd.

Studies show that using traditional two-shot M Hyo vaccines provides an average daily weight gain improvement of 21 grams; Vaccination also reduced the percentage of lung lesions significantly.

The principle of vaccination is to prepare the immune system of the animal so that it is able to deal with natural field infection, should it occur. Vaccines contain the causal agent (antigen) either in attenuated live form (live vaccine) or in inactivated form (killed vaccine). The immune system reacts to the vaccine by triggering an immune response, i.e. the vaccine antigen simulates an infection. This provides the animal with active immunisation. If the animal is re-infected at a later date by the same organism, the immune system mounts an immediate and highly targeted response.