The effect of gilt flow management during acclimation on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae detection

The objective of this study was to characterize the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) detection and seroconversion patterns in recently acclimated gilts to be introduced to endemically infected farms using different types of replacement management. Three gilt developing units (GDUs) belonging to sow farms were included in this investigation: two farms managed gilts in continuous flow, and one farm managed gilts all-in/all-out. Two replicates of 35 gilts each were selected per GDU and sampled approximately every 60 days for a total of four or five samplings, per replicate and per GDU. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae was evaluated by PCR, while antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA assay. Also, M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability was evaluated using Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae was similar across GDUs. Although a significant proportion of gilts was detected positive for M. hyopneumoniae after acclimation, an average of 30.3 % of gilts was negative at any point during the study. Detection of M. hyopneumoniae antibodies was similar among GDUs regardless of flow type or vaccination protocol. The genetic variability analysis revealed a limited number of M. hyopneumoniae types within each GDU. Results of this study showed a similar pattern of M. hyopneumoniae detection by PCR and seroconversion by ELISA among GDUs, regardless of the type of flow management strategies applied to gilts.