Enzootic pneumonia (EP) is caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo). EP is a chronic disease of the respiratory system. As EP significantly impairs the self-cleansing mechanism of the lungs, secondary infections almost always occur and have a considerable economic impact on pig finishing. The economic impact is not caused by animal losses, but by decreased performance (reduced daily gain, poor feed conversion, etc.).
The typical symptom is a dry, unproductive cough which is most prevalent when the animals are roused. The cough is accompanied by a range of unspecific symptoms such as reduced feed intake, uneven growth rates within litters, and increased use of medication. |
