Efficacy and safety of a combined Porcine Circovirus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine in finishing pigs

• A PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae combination vaccine was tested in laboratory studies in pigs.
• The same vaccine was also tested under field conditions.
• We show that the vaccine is safe in finishing pigs from 3 weeks of age.
• We show that the vaccine is efficacious against PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae infections.

The safety and protective efficacy of a new one dose combination vaccine containing Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and M. hyopneumoniae antigens – Porcilis® PCV M Hyo - was evaluated in laboratory studies and under field conditions. Vaccination resulted in a moderate temperature increase on the day of vaccination and mild systemic and local reactions were found in only a low percentage of the vaccinated pigs. The local reactions observed were small (max. 2 cm) and transient (max. 1 day). In short term (onset of immunity) and long term (duration of immunity) challenge studies with the individual pathogens, the vaccine significantly reduced the PCV2 load in lymphoid tissue and lungs and M. hyopneumoniae-induced lung lesions. In a placebo-controlled field trial on a farm where both PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae were present, vaccination of piglets at 3 weeks of age resulted in a reduction of PCV2 viremia and shedding and lower lung lesion scores at slaughter. In addition, a positive effect on the average daily weight gain (+ 34 g/day) in the finishing phase was observed. It can therefore be concluded that this new ready to use combination vaccine is safe and efficacious against PCV2 and M. hyopneumoniae single and combined infections.