Evaluation of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterins for porcine torque teno virus DNAs

Objective-TO determine whether commercial Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterins sold for use in swine contain porcine torque teno virus (TTV). Sample Population-22 commercially available M hyopneumoniae bacterins. Procedures-Direct and nested. PCR assays for genogroup-specific TTV DNAs were performed on serials of M hyopneumoniae bacterins by use of published and custom-designed primer pairs at 3 laboratories in North America and Europe. Results-Of the 22 bacterins tested by use of direct and nested PCR assays, 7 of 9 from the United States, 2 of 5 from Canada, and 4 of 8 from Europe contained genogroup 1 - and genogroup 2-TTV DNAs. In some bacterins, the TTV DNAs were readily detected by use of direct PCR assays. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Analysis of these data indicated that many of the commercially available M hyopneumoniae bacterins were contaminated with TTV DNA. It is possible that some of these bacterins could inadvertently transmit porcine TTV infection to TTV-naive swine. (Am J Vet Res 2008;69:1601-1607)