Serum acute phase response induced by different vaccination protocols against circovirus type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in piglets

The purpose of this study was to compare the acute phase reaction (APR) induced by different vaccination protocols used against Porcine Circovirus (PCV) type-2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo), studying two acute phase proteins (APPs) and changes in rectal temperature (RT). In addition, the possible influence of the time of vaccination and breed were analysed. In the first experiment, 40 commercial crossbred piglets were vaccinated, on the day of weaning, with FLEXcombo® (group A, n = 20) or Porcilis PCV® and Stellamune® One (group B, n = 20). The second experiment was performed on two farms, on which 40 commercial crossbred piglets or 40 Iberian piglets were vaccinated, 7 days post-weaning. On each farm one group (A, n = 20) was vaccinated with FLEXcombo® and another group (B, n = 20) with Porcilis® PCV-M.hyo. Blood samples were taken before, 24 h and 48 h after vaccination, and RT were recorded before and 8 h after vaccination. Significantly higher increases in group B in RT (P < 0.01) and APPs concentrations (P < 0.01) were recorded at several sampling times after vaccination compared with group A. The vaccines that produced greater increases in RT also produced higher APPs increases but no influence of the day of vaccination or of the breed were found. Therefore, serum APPs concentrations differed according to the vaccine used, which may be useful, along with RT, for choosing the vaccine or protocol that produces APR of lower magnitude.