Focus on combination vaccine against PCV2 and M. hyo
Over 200 pig health experts of over 20 countries gathered in Libourne, France, on November 4, 2025, to attend the first edition of the summit “Advancing Swine Health.” The pathogens porcine circovirus, type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were in the spotlight.
The event was set up by animal health company Ceva Santé Animale and meant to put the spotlight on the company’s vaccine Cirbloc M Hyo, which was launched in various countries worldwide less than a year ago. The event took place in the brand new headquarters, which was opened in October 2025.
Protection to both PCV2 and M. hyo
Philippe Mazerolles, swine corporate marketing director at Ceva, briefly introduced the vaccine, which is a ready-to-use combination vaccine with simultaneous protection to both PCV2 and M. hyo, which can be administered to piglets as from 3 weeks of age. Although the combination is not the first of its kind on the market, Mazerolles emphasised that the combination is the “only ready-to-use vaccine based on the PCV2d genotype, the most prevalent genotype in the world.”
He added that according to recently published scientific information, the vaccine would offer better protection than those of competition.
MDA levels and vaccine efficacy
Two leading researchers then mounted the stage to share outcomes of their studies to the vaccine. Dr Marina Sibila of the Catalan research institute IRTA-CReSA explained about a trial which zoomed in on the impact of maternally derived antibodies on the vaccine efficacy. Doing a trial with groups with piglets with higher and lower MDA levels, she concluded that “viral load reduction and immune control were evident regardless of MDA level.”
From Belgium, Prof Dr Dominiek Maes of the University of Ghent, zoomed in more on the M. hyo angle of the vaccine. Amongst his conclusions was that M. hyo vaccination was “efficacious against clinical signs, lesions and infection load.”
Longitudinal study in Germany
Various veterinarians from around the globe were invited to share their practical experiences with the vaccine in the field, there were testimonials from e.g. Spain (Vall Companys) and Brazil (Brasil Foods). A third testimonial came from Dr Linus Eichhorn, managing partner of Vet-Team-Schleswig-Holstein, in the north of Germany. The veterinary practice is part of an international consortium called VetXperts.
He presented the results of a longitudinal study to the novel vaccine in 24 farms and compared the outcome to different PCV2/M. hyo vaccine combinations. He concluded that the novel vaccine “had been showing a consistent reduction of PCV2 viraemia,” said that 90% of responding farmers said they were satisfied with the vaccine’s safety, and two-thirds had seen an improvement in respiratory health, average daily gain or antibiotic use in the fattening unit.
Key factors influencing global pig markets
One of the last speakers of the event was Dr Éva Gocsik, global strategist animal protein of RaboResearch. She presented a very insightful overview of key factors influencing global markets. She identified 5 of them:
- Global pork supply, which is about to tighten driven by China’s herd reduction;
- Margin squeeze, even though prices are high and feed costs lower, margins can be squeezed further down the chain;
- Geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions;
- Animal health issues, like ASF or avian influenza;
- Sustainability, which will continue to be important but perhaps as a slower pace.
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