Can pig movement help monitor M. hyopneumoniae infection?
Experimentally infected pigs moved less, suggesting that automated movement monitoring may complement conventional measures of M. hyopneumoniae infection.
Experimentally infected pigs moved less, suggesting that automated movement monitoring may complement conventional measures of M. hyopneumoniae infection.
Problem: Experimental monitoring of M. hyopneumoniae relies on numerous measurements, and automated measures could simplify surveillance.
Methods: The authors compared microchip-derived movement and temperature with lung lesions, respiratory scores, DNA load, and antibody responses.
1. Infected pigs spent 1.9% of observations moving compared with 6.9% in negative controls (p<0.05).
2. Lung lesions, respiratory score, bacterial DNA load, and antibodies were significantly increased in infected animals at day 28.
3. Several conventional measurements were moderately to very strongly correlated, while movement was proposed as a promising indicator rather than a stand-alone diagnostic test.
Original publication
Sonalio K et al. Rationalizing the use of common parameters and technological tools to follow up Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in pigs. Porcine Health Management. 2024, 10:31.