Bacterins and vaccines for the control of Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

The preferred method for the control of Mycoplasma gallisepticum is eradication. Unfortunately, the advent of multiple-age farms for poultry production has made eradication impractical after the organism has been introduced. Live vaccination with the F strain of M. gallisepticum during the rearing period has been used to prevent egg production losses. More recently, an inactivated oil emulsion bacterin has become available commercially. Vaccine and bacterin offer protection against egg production losses, respiratory signs and lesions, and egg transmission. Vaccination of broilers, however, is not yet feasible, Bacterin offers minimal protection against infection. The use of bacterins and vaccines on multiple-age farms is being studied as a potential eradication tool.