December 14, 2006

University starts research project on swine diseases
 

A major 4-year project has been announced by researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University. This work aims to clarify the epidemiology and aetiology of swine infections caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae .

The work is being funded by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders and Pfizer Animal Health, which produces the most widely used M hyo vaccines worldwide - Stellamune.

This project follows previous research at the University which has shown that M hyo isolates differ with regard to their genetic make-up and their virulence.

Professor Dr Dominiek Maes, project co-ordinator said it is not known to what extent M hyo isolates vary within pig herds. For example, whether the isolates that infect young pigs are the same as those in older pigs.

Although current vaccines are an economically justified way of controlling the disease for individual pig farmers, it is unknown exactly how vaccination influences the diversity of M hyo strains on individual farms, or exactly which antigens within the M hyo cell induce the best protection.