Philippines - Vets say disease had killed 60,000 piglets in Batangas

The so-called porcine epidemic diarrhea syndrome (PEDS) has already killed 60,000 piglets in Batangas province since it struck hog farms last June, provincial veterinarian Dr. Rodrigo Bautista said. The affected areas in Batangas include hog farms of Rosario, Ibaan, Padre Garcia, San Jose and Taysan towns and Lipa City, characterized as the province’s agro-industrial areas. PEDS is an acute diarrheal disease caused by corona virus, affecting pigs of different age groups. It was discovered in Europe in 1969 and is now widespread in China and European countries. Adult pigs experience anorexia, lethargy and diarrhea while sucklings exhibit vomiting and watery diarrhea. Mortality rate is high for sucklings at 100 percent and piglets at 50 percent or greater. The syndrome earlier struck piglets in Bulacan province last year before the Bureau of Animal Industry positively identified the disease when it reached Batangas in June. At least 1,008 piglets and head of pigs have already died in Lipa since June. Bautista disclosed that the disease spread quickly from one town to another. San Jose and Rosario farms, he said, are no longer contaminated with PEDS, which is now starting to infect Taysan hog farms this month. Bautista said the airborne infectious disease could have been carried by winds or contaminated objects from affected farms. According to him, hog raisers were now preventing the spread of the disease. Piglets were also given electrolyte replacements as their protection for diarrhea and secondary bacterial infection. Biosecurity measures, which include the quarantine of hog farm personnel, are also considered to prevent the spread of the disease in unaffected farms. Bautista explained that August is the usual breeding period for pigs, which would be sold in the market by January. Owners would lose at least 1,000 pesos to 1,500 pesos per head, amounting to at least 100,000 pesos for 500 pigs sold due to the disease, he said.