Mycoplasma suis attaches and penetrates the erythrocytes and therefore leads to haemolytic anaemia. The organism has an enormous impact on rendability due to the impaired oxygen transport capacity in pigs.
This mycoplasma species, which is distributed worldwide, can be transported via blood sucking arthropods, injection, surgical castration, urine, saliva, and nasal and vaginal exudates. Intra-uterine infection of piglets may also be possible. A study in Germany revealed that piglets were infected in 40.3% of the 196 tested farms. However, this infection is often not included in the differential diagnosis and its impact is underestimated. A commercial vaccine is not available.
Field trial
Clinical symptoms
Diagnosis M. suis
Treatment
Measured parameters before and after treatment
Figure 1. Day 16 haemoglobin content (mmol/l) before and after treatment
Figure 2. Pre-weaning mortality (%) before and after treatment
Figure 3. Weight at weaning (kg) before and after treatment
Figure 4. Average daily gain (g/day) in the nursery before and after treatment
Three months after treatment, no positive results were found when performing a total of 20 PCR blood analyses of sows, gilts, and weaned pigs.
Conclusion
M. suis infections have an enormous impact on the technical performance of sows and piglets. This haemotrophic disease can be controlled by the administration of Vetmulin® / Rodotium® to affected sows.