He said one of these molecules is important in making vaccines to protect pigs from these microorganisms. It is more difficult for scientists to make vaccines against mycoplasmas, Ross said. It is a complex process, developing a vaccine, so we need to understand more about how the organism causes the disease. Mycoplasmal diseases can retard growth in pigs, Ross said.
Pigs require more feed to get to market and the infection predisposes the pig to other infections.
Although mycoplasmas generally are not fatal, Ross said swine deaths can occur indirectly if pigs get other diseases as a consequence of mycoplasmal infection. Ross' work has not gone unnoticed. He recently received the Secretary of Agriculture's Award for Personal and Professional Achievement for his work on detecting, controlling and preventing swine respiratory diseases caused by mycoplasmas. The award was presented to Ross by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 5. Ross said he was not expecting to receive the award.