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last update:Dec 14, 2006
4-year project into swine disease
A major 4-year project has been announced by
researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University. This
work aims to clarify the epidemiology and aetiology of swine infections caused
by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
.
This project follows previous research at the University which has shown
that
M hyo
isolates differ with regard to their genetic make-up and their virulence.
Professor Dr Dominiek Maes, project co-ordinator said: "At the moment we do
not know to what extent M hyo isolates vary within pig herds. For example,
whether the isolates that infect young pigs are the same as those in older
pigs."
"Although current vaccines are an economically justified way of controlling
the disease for individual pig farmers, it is unknown exactly how vaccination
influences the diversity of M hyo strains on individual farms, or exactly which
antigens within the M hyo cell induce the best protection."
The research includes several studies using animals
from commercial pig farms in Belgium. The work is being funded by the Institute
for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders and Pfizer
Animal Health, which produces the most widely used M hyo vaccines in Europe and
worldwide -
Stellamuneâ„¢.
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