Sample and Diagnostic Types for Early Detection of Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae

By Maria Pieters, Jason Daniels, Albert Rovira
University of Minnesota- College of Veterinary Medicine; Present location: John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the causative agent enzootic pneumonia, an economically significant disease in pigs. In this study published by Drs. Pieters and Rovira from the University of Minnesota, pigs experimentally inoculated with M.hyopneumoniae were sampled 0, 2, 5, 9, 14, 21 and 28 post-inoculation.

Different sample types were compared:

• Nasal swabs
• Laryngeal swabs
• Tracheobronchal lavages
• Oral fluids
• Serum samples

Using different diagnostic tests:

• PCR
• ELISA IgG anti M.hyopneumoniae
• ELISA Ig M anti M.hyopneumoniae
• ELISA C-reactive protein

Laryngeal swab samples tested by PCR were highly sensitive for detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in live pigs. Various commercial ELISA kits for detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antibodies showed similar sensitivity. Oral fluids showed a low sensitivity for detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in experimentally infected pigs.

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