By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. hog industry has faced many challenges and obstacles throughout the years, but one of the most devastating is the onslaught of a disease known as porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD).
During the recent World Pork Expo June 7-9 in Des Moines, Iowa, the capital of the country’s No. 1 hog-producing state, researchers shared new information relating to the swine disease causing industry headaches around the world.
On-farm investigations conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) jointly with the Iowa State University (ISU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory revealed that several other swine diseases also have an impact on the prevalence and severity of PCVAD.
A survey of 59 herds in the United States showed that 72 percent of the PCVAD symptomatic pigs also had coexisting porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). PRRS is another crushing disease that weakens hogs’ immune systems and causes devastating reproductive and respiratory failure throughout the herd. In addition, Salmonella was found as a co-infection in 58 percent of the cases, and swine influenza and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were identified as concurrent infections with PCVAD in 30 percent and 18 percent of the cases.
The results of BIVI’s study are based on findings from the MAGIC (Monitoring Assignment for Global Insight of Circovirus) diagnostic trials that were conducted in 2006. The MAGIC project collected herd information, including historical mortality rates and demonstrated PCVAD symptoms and individual animal diagnostics, including serum and tissue sampling and post mortem examinations.
According to John Kolb, professional services veterinarian for BIVI, the MAGIC study provided a unique opportunity to examine the effects of PCVAD on pigs during peak mortality.
The study also revealed the extent that other disease infections play in possibly worsening the impact of PCVAD within a herd. Kolb cites an ISU study which showed that PCV2-infected pigs that were vaccinated for PRRS had significantly increased averaged daily gain and fewer lesions over non-PRRS vaccinated pigs infected with the likes of PCV2.
“The research shows just how important it is to control PCV2, PRRS, Salmonella and other diseases as a way to reduce the severity of PCVAD where it’s a problem,” Kolb added. “Especially in regards to PRRS, as the combination of PRRS and PCV2 can be most devastating to a production system.”
Signs of PCVAD are weight loss, stressed appearance, diarrhea, respiratory distress, enlarged lymph nodes, increased mortality rates and reproductive disorders such as abortions or stillbirths.
“The key to controlling this disease (PCVAD) and keeping the gut healthier is vaccination,” said Kolb. “When you reduce the overall chance for PCVAD, you will reduce the impact of numerous other diseases such as PRRS, Salmonella and swine influenza.”
To help swine producers prevent PCVAD, BIVI developed the Ingelvac CircoFlex vaccine, a single dose PCV2 vaccine for pigs three weeks of age or older. BIVI said the cost for a CircoFlex
vaccine per pig is approximately $1.60.
“However, we want to make clear that this vaccine is not a cure all and will not take all of your problems away,” said Kolb.
Other pharmaceutical firms such as Fort Dodge and Intervet also provide competitive vaccines to prevent the onslaught of PCVAD. According to BIVI, vaccination at the youngest possible age provides the most effective tool for preventing PCVAD in nursery and grow-finish pigs. This farm news was published in the June 13, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
