PEDV and PRRS in the News

There has been a lot in the news lately on both PEDV (Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus) and PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome). On PEDV, Jordan Anderson wrote an article “9 tips to block PEDV, she also quotes South Dakota State University Extension Swine Specialist Bob Thaler who has several writings on PEDV (1). The main culprit in the spread of PEDV is by contaminated manure (2). It only takes a very small amount of contaminated manure to infect a herd (2). PEDV continues to spread in the United States, Bob Thaler estimates that the U.S. has lost and estimated three million piglets to PEDV in the year 2013 (2), and on January 23, 2014 the Canadian Swine Health Board announced that Canada had “broke” with PEDV in two places (3). On PRRS, there has been more and more evidence that PRRS is often spread through the air (i.e. airborne) (4). The French have come out with an “Air Scrubber” that will filter out the small PRRS virus particles. EPI (Electrostatic Particle Ionization) technology patented by Baumgartner Environics looks to help prevent PRRS in a barn (5). These new technologies will be especially useful in helping prevent PRRS, especially in “Hog-Dense Areas”. Scott Dee DVM, of the University of Minnesota, has a list of ways to prevent the spread of PRRS in the article “Reducing the Area Spread of PRRS” (6).

References:
(1) Anderson, Jordan “9 tips to block PEDv” January 15, 2014 cited on January 252, 2014 http://www.agriculture.com/livestock/hogs/health/9-tiops-to-blockppedv_284-ar41160?print (2) South Dakota State University “Three Million Pigs Possibly Lost Due to PEDV” National Hog Farmer January 06, 2014
(3) Canadian Swine Health Board & Reuters “PEDV Breaks Out in Canada” National Hog Farmer January 24, 2014
(4) American Association of Swine Veterinarians “Aerosol Spread Linked to Large Sow Farm PRRS Breaks” National Hog Farmer August 01, 2013
(5) Vansickle, Joe “Stopping Dirty Air May Stymie PRRS” National Hog Farmer November 15, 2013
(6) Vansickle, Joe “Reducing the Area Spread of PRRS” National Hog Farmer November 15, 2007