Explore all the information on
Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was first reported in the USA in 1987. Since then, outbreaks of PRRS and successful isolation of the virus have been confirmed throughout North America, Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe.
The etiologic agent of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is a virus in the group Arteriviridae. The virus is enveloped and ranges in size from 45 to 80 mm. Inactivation is possible after treatment with ether or chloroform; however, the virus is very stable under freezing conditions, retaining its infectivity for 4 months at -70°C (-94°F). As the temperature rises, infectivity is reduced (15–20 minutes at 56°C [132.8°F]).
After infection of a naive herd, exposure of all members of the breeding population is inconsistent, leading to development of naive, exposed, and persistently infected subpopulations of sows. This situation is exacerbated over time through the addition of improperly acclimated replacement gilts and leads to shedding of the virus from carrier animals to those that have not been previously exposed.
The primary vector for transmission of the virus is the infected pig and contaminated semen. Controlled studies have indicated that infected swine may be long-term carriers, with adults able to shed PRRS virus for up to 86 days after infection, and weaned pigs able to harbor virus for 157 days. Experimentally infected boars can shed virus in the semen up to 93 days after infection.
Pig slaughterings in 2005 are forecast to rise by 2% after an increase in the number of maiden gilts feeds through.
The Dec 2004 UK pig herd total of 476,000 was down by 7.4% on the previous year but maiden gilt numbers have risen by 13.8%.
This will be the first year on year increase in slaughter numbers since 1998, said to be due to increased sow productivity.
UK herd health and output has been greatly compromised by PRRS (Blue Ear Disease) since the early 1990s and more recently...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
The Western Cape agriculture department and role players in the pig farming industry have agreed to cull more than 9,000 pigs in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly blue-ear virus.
The decision was taken at a meeting between Cobus Dowry, the provincial minister of agriculture, the Pork Producers' Association and farmers in Stellenbosch today.
Areas in the Boland District Municipality and Malmesbury have been placed under quarantine.
Dowry says he will approach the Western Cape...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
The movement of swine will be controlled in certain areas of the Western Cape after a large commercial piggery in Klapmuts tested positive for blue ear disease, said Agriculture MEC Cobus Dowry on Friday.
Dowry said: "A movement control system would be implemented immediately in the municipal areas of Drakenstein, Joostenburg, Philippi, Emfuleni and Malmesbury.
"This means all movements of pigs into and from these areas requires a "red" cross permit issued by the state vet Boland or the...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
DuPont Animal Health Solutions' broad spectrum disinfectant, ANTEC® Virkon® S, has proved highly potent against the PRRS virus at the high dilution of 1:500. Recent tests, carried out by a leading independent laboratory in the USA proved that ANTEC® Virkon® S completely inactivates the PRRS virus following a ten minute exposure time at dilutions of both 1:250 and 1:500.
Such low dilution rates make ANTEC® Virkon® S extremely economical for use. To ensure that the tests represented realistic...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
A study looking at chronic infectious respiratory diseases that affect most swine during their critical growing stage has shed new light on the reasons for restricted weight gain and reduced muscle mass.
In the November issue of the Journal of Nutrition, scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign report that the production of inflammatory cytokines by immune cells appears to be responsible for declines of both protein accretion and weight gain in swine infected with...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
A killed porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine did not affect virus shedding in previously PRRSV-infected pigs.
According to a study from the United States, "Two experiments were conducted to investigate if virus shedding could be reduced following a killed porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccination (KV) of PRRSV infected pigs.
In experiment 1, PRRSV infected pigs were vaccinated with KV on days 14 and 28 following infection....
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
On their own, large roundworms can inflict substantial harm on pig performance and a producer’s bottom line.
However, new research shows the negative effects of roundworms can go much further, actually reducing the ability of a pig’s immune system to fight viral and bacterial pathogens that cause diseases such as PRRS, swine influenza and ileitis – leaving today’s pigs more vulnerable than many producers and veterinarians realize.
Recent research has shown roundworms migrating within a...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
The Western Cape department of agriculture in South Africa has announced that all pigs on farms where blue-ear disease has been diagnosed have to be destroyed. Farmers affected by the slaughter will get compensation.
The measure is being taken to prevent further spreading of the disease. Tests indicate the presence of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, the official name of blue-ear disease, on 16 farms in the Western Cape to date.
"The farmers will get good compensations for...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
Blue-Ear Pigs Disease has been diagnosed on a pig farm on the Cape Flats, according to preliminary tests done at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute.
The Western Cape's minister of agriculture, Cobus Dowry, said on Friday that as far as could be ascertained only one farm appeared to be involved, but an investigation into the possible source and extent of the disease had been initiated.
"The disease will only be finally confirmed after the causative virus has been isolated,"...
Comments : 0
Recommendations: 0
