ENZOOTIC PNEUMONIA IN PIGS

This article reviews current knowledge concerning enzootic pneumonia. Enzootic pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and exacerbated by secondary invaders, occurs worldwide and has been known for many y ears. The organism, with its typical characteristics, invades the resp iratory tract in several successive steps. Clinical symptoms and lesio n development are the result of the pathogenic capacity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and the defence reactions in the lung, The economic rele vance of pneumonia is influenced to a large extent by common secondary infections which follow an initial M. hyopneumoniae infection. Differ ent tests for the diagnosis of pneumonia in individual pigs and in gro ups are available. Treatment and control is not simple since enzootic pneumonia is a multi-factorial disease. Some epidemiological aspects a nd the most important measures for prevention of the disease are descr ibed.