Mycoplasmas in Swine

The present book provides up-to-date scientific, clinical and practical information of the most important pathogenic mycoplasmas in swine. Most emphasis has been placed on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, as this is economically the most important Mycoplasma sp. in swine.

However, other pathogenic species like Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma suis are discussed. Every chapter has been written by internationally renowned scientists and clinicians from all over the world; each with in depth knowledge, expertise and experience in the particular areas of swine mycoplasmas. In total, more than 40 persons have contributed as authors. Two independent reviewers and the editors have critically evaluated every chapter of the book, and original versions have been revised accordingly. This procedure should guarantee the evidence-based character of the book, the high scientific level and the practical relevance of the content. The book aims to serve the scientific and veterinary community and the swine industry worldwide. It may be relevant for scientists from universities, research institutes and diagnostic laboratories, persons involved in veterinary and animal science education, swine practitioners, and veterinarians and health professionals working in industry. We are grateful to all who have contributed to this book, to the companies that have supported the initiative to bring together all information related to swine Mycoplasma and helped with the distribution of the book, and last but not least to all colleagues who will read the book.

Swine can be infected with different mycoplasmas. Some of them are important pathogens, causing significant health and welfare issues in pigs and major losses to the swine industry worldwide. Other mycoplasmas are not pathogenic for swine and can be considered commensals. The present book provides up-to-date scientific, clinical and practical information of the most important pathogenic mycoplasmas in swine. Most emphasis has been placed on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, as this is economically the most important Mycoplasma sp. in swine. However, other pathogenic species like Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma suis are discussed. Every chapter has been written by internationally renowned scientists and clinicians from all over the world; each with in depth knowledge, expertise and experience in the particular areas of swine mycoplasmas. In total, more than 40 persons have contributed as authors. Two independent reviewers and the editors have critically evaluated every chapter of the book, and original versions have been revised accordingly. This procedure should guarantee the evidence-based character of the book, the high scientific level and the practical relevance of the content. The book aims to serve the scientific and veterinary community and the swine industry worldwide. It may be relevant for scientists from universities, research institutes and diagnostic laboratories, persons involved in veterinary and animal science education, swine practitioners, and veterinarians and health professionals working in industry. We are grateful to all who have contributed to this book, to the companies that have supported the initiative to bring together all information related to swine Mycoplasma and helped with the distribution of the book, and last but not least to all colleagues who will read the book.

Dominiek Maes is full professor and head of the Unit of Porcine Health Management at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University Belgium. He is a specialist of the European College of Porcine Health Management. His main research area is on respiratory disease in pigs, with emphasis on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. He is a member of the International Organization of Mycoplasmology (IOM) and has been the chair of the porcine section of the International Research Programme on Comparative Mycoplasmology (IRPCM) within the IOM. Marina Sibila is a researcher at Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) since 2004. This research center, located in Bellaterra (Barcelona), is the animal health program of Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA). Her research line is focused on swine respiratory diseases, mainly Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae among other pathogens. During these years, she has worked to expand the knowledge on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae epidemiology, animal model development, diagnostic tools assessment and evaluation of disease control strategies. Maria Pieters is a faculty member at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Minnesota (UMN) in the United States. Veterinarian by training, she has dedicated more than 15 years of research efforts to aid defining and developing areas of diagnostics, epidemiology, and control of swine Mycoplasma species, with special interest on d isease elimination. She is the principal investigator of the UMN Mycoplasma Research Laboratory and an active member of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology.