Effects of two different Circovirus type 2 and Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae vaccines mixture on acute phase proteins in Iberian piglets

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and co-infection with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo) plays a primary role in the porcine respiratory disease complex. Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been proposed as suitable veterinary biomarkers to monitor welfare, and inflammatory response. In addition, C-reactive protein (CRP) has recently been postulated as a potential biomarker use for vaccine safety studies and the measurement of haptoglobin (Hp) may be an indicator of average daily weight gain (ADWG) in pig farms. The aims of this study was to evaluate the response of Hp and CRP, the increase of temperature and the ADWG obtained after PCV2 and M. hyo vaccination with two vaccines mixture in Iberian piglets.

Two groups of 20 Iberian piglets were vaccinated, 7 days after weaning, with a single injection (2 mL) of (A) FLEXcombo®:Boehringer Ingelheim, Spain, SA) or with a single injection (2 mL) of (B) Porcilis® PCV-M Hyo (Intervet International B.V. Holland). Blood samples and weight of each animal were taken before vaccination (basal levels), 24h after vaccination (24h Post-V) and 48h after vaccination (48h Post-V). Also, the weight after 39 days of vaccination was taken (39d Post-V). The rectal temperature was recorded before and 8h after immunization. Serum Hp and CRP concentrations were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer (Olympus 2700, Germany). A two-ways ANOVA test was performed and a value of P< 0.05 was used to indicate significance.

In the case of Hp concentrations with respect to baseline, significant differences in group B at 24h (P< 0.001) and 48h (P< 0.01) Post-V were found. CRP showed significant (P< 0.05) higher values at 48h Post-V in group B compared with group A In relation to baseline, significant (P< 0.001) increases in group B at 24h and 48h Post-V were observed, whereas in group A CRP increased only at 24h Post-V (P< 0.05). 8h Post-V, rectal temperatures were significantly higher in the group B (41.0ºC) (P< 0.01) compared to group A (39.9ºC). Group A showed significant higher values (P< 0.001) in ADWF at 24h Post-V compared with group B (252 g vs. -72 g). In addition, the ADWG were higher in animals of group A compared with animals vaccinated at 48h Post-V (360 g vs. 238 g) and 39 days Post-V (344 g vs. 317) with a final average weight gain of 13 Kg for group A and 12 kg for group B.

According to the results obtained, the production of APPs has been higher and more persistent in animals of group B. In addition, this group had higher rectal temperature and less ADWG which are indicatives of greater inflammatory response and, therefore, a worse adaptation to weaning. This fact has also been observed with commercial piglets.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.