Environmental detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in breed-to-wean farms

There is a need to develop cost-effective and non-invasive approaches to sample large populations to evaluate the disease status of breeding herds. In this study we assessed the detection of the M. hyopneumoniae genetic material in environmental surfaces and air of farrowing rooms, and skin (udder, snout and vagina) of lactating sows at weaning, in farms having different M. hyopneumoniae infection status (negative, positive sub-clinically infected and positive clinically affected). Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was detected in air, air deposition particles, dam and stall surfaces of the positive clinically affected herd. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae could only be detected in dam and stall surfaces in sub-clinically infected herds. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was not detected in all samples collected in the negative herd. The cycle threshold of the positive PCR samples were not statistically different between sample types or farms. However, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the percentage of positive samples between the positive clinically affected farm and the rest. Likewise, M. hyopneumoniae was detected in the environment and surfaces at weaning in positive breeding herds. Further testing and validation is recommended for environmental and surface samples before they can be employed as part of the M. hyopneumoniae diagnostic process. In addition, results from this study highlight potential sources of M. hyopneumoniae infection for piglets in breeding herds, especially during an outbreak.