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New funding for research into enzootic pneumonia
The bacteria responsible for the disease is present in 80 per cent of UK herds.
Government awards funding to researchers developing vaccine.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College have been awarded funding to create a vaccine for enzootic pneumonia by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Enzootic pneumonia is the most common respiratory disease in pigs, with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyop), the bacteria which causes the disease, present in 80 per cent of UK herds. It is predominantly transmitted to piglets through lactation from an infected pig and can result in a 16 per cent reduction in growth.

Currently, treatment relies on antibiotics, with M.hyop susceptible to several varieties. However, owing to the need to reduce the overall use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine to prevent drug-resistant strains of bacteria developing, scientists are keen to find an alternative.

The research team, which will include Professor Dirk Werling, Dr Rob Noad, and Dr Sonja Jeckel, will work on developing the first commercially available vaccine for enzootic pneumonia. The researchers will also study how to improve protocols to eliminate M.hyop from pig herds to further minimise the potential transmission of the disease.

Previous research, funded by the BBSRC and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, identified the genes which allow the pathogen to survive in pigs.

Professor Werling said: “Infection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a really debilitating disease in pigs that causes huge economic losses for farmers. I am very pleased that we will be able to continue working with a pharmaceutical partner to develop a new vaccine using state-of the-art technologies.”


Image (C) Shutterstock

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FIVP announces third series of Practice Matters

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced a third season of its podcast, Practice Matters.

Hosted by Ian Wolstenholme, series three will focus on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, including a discussion about some of the expected impacts on independent veterinary colleagues.

Episode one launches on 13th January with guests Drs David Reader and Scott Summers, who will draw on their research into the CMA investigation and provide insights into themes such as transparency, pricing and consumer trust.

Ian Wolstenholme said: "In its third series, we will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession. Hope you can join us soon!" 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk