Effects of two different Circovirus type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine combinations on acute phase proteins in piglets

Vaccination against circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo) is done round weaning, which is one of the most stressful events in the pig’s life. Therefore, vaccination should not contribute to compromised well-being to this new situation. Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been proposed as suitable biomarkers to monitor stress, for detection of inflammation and for monitoring the well-being of pigs. The aims of this study was to evaluate the development of haptoglobin (Hp) and C-reactive protein (CRP), rectal temperature and the average daily weight gain (ADWG) obtained after application of two different vaccination protocols against PCV2 and M. hyo in piglets, during the nursery phase.

Two groups of 20 piglets (10 males and 10 females per group) were vaccinated, 7 days after weaning, with 1 mL of CircoFLEX® and with 1 mL of MycoFLEX® in a single injection of 2 mL (A, FLEXcombo®; Boehringer Ingelheim, Spain, SA) or with a single injection (2 mL) of (B) Porcilis® PCV-M Hyo (Intervet International B.V., The Netherlands). Blood samples and weight of each animal were taken before vaccination, 24h after vaccination (24h Post-V) and 48h after vaccination (48h Post-V). Also, the weight at 39 days after vaccination was taken (39d Post-V). The rectal temperature was recorded before and 7h after immunization. The Hp and CRP concentrations in serum were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer (Olympus 2700 automatic chemistry analyzer, Germany). The statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 6 (Graph Pad, Software, USA)

The administration of both vaccines increased concentrations of Hp and CRP respect to basal level of each group. In addition, 24h Post-V, Hp and CRP concentrations were significantly higher (approximately 3-fold higher) in group B compared to group A. 7h post immunization, the rectal temperature was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in animals vaccinated with B (40.9 ºC) compared to A (39.9 ºC). Moreover, in relation to baseline, the ADWG were higher in animals vaccinated with A compared to the animals vaccinated with B at 24h ( 173g vs -29g) and at 48h ( 193g vs 48g) Post-V.

Finally, the average weight gain 39d Post-V was of 13kg for A and 11.5kg for B.

It has been reported that weaning stress increases serum level of APPs and that the Hp level and the ADWG may be inversely related postweaning. In this study, significantly higher levels of both APPs in animals vaccinated with Porcilis® PCV-M Hyo compare to FLEXcombo® were found and the lower ADWG was obtained in the group with these highest levels of APPs.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.