Profiling Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in farms using serology and a nested PCR technique

Methods: Five commercial farms with a history of mycoplasmal pneumonia participated in the study. Samples were taken from different age groups during a single visit, starting at 5, 6, 7, or 8 weeks of age and up to nearly marketing age. Ten animals per age group (five different age groups per farm) were randomly selected and nasal swabs and blood samples taken. DNA from nasal swabs was extracted and the nested PCR to detect M. hyopneumoniae infected animals was performed. Sera were tested for antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae. The estimated antigen and antibody prevalence per age group was calculated, and plotted with their corresponding confidence intervals. Differences between both tests were measured using χ2 analysis.