Quantifying vaccination's Impact on MS transmission control in field conditions
A new study on the quantification of the effect of vaccination on the control of horizontal transmission of Mycoplasma synoviae under field conditions was published in Avian Pathology by a group of Dutch researchers.
The study found that vaccination plays a significant role in reducing the incidence of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in poultry populations under field conditions. By analyzing four years of monitoring data, the study quantified the effect of MS live vaccination on horizontal transmission. The data were collected from non-vaccinated broiler and layer breeders, as well as MS-vaccinated broiler breeders with good biosecurity in single-age housing systems. The average MS incidence rate per 1,000 weeks was significantly lower in MS-vaccinated broiler breeders compared to non-vaccinated broiler breeders, showing a decrease from 29.6 to 5.6 cases with successive vaccinated production cycles. A significant negative association was found between MS incidence and vaccination after four to six successive production cycles, indicating a reduced risk of MS transmission in vaccinated flocks. The results suggest that vaccination, along with proper biosecurity measures and control of contacts, contributes to the reduction of between-farm MS transmission. These findings highlight the importance of vaccination as a key strategy in controlling the horizontal transmission of Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry populations under field conditions.
