March 13, 2008

China's pig disease problems caused by modified Blue Ear virus

A modified strain of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRSV) could be one of the primary culprits of the severe mortality rate of pigs in China, which has gripped the country's pig industry since 2006.

According to a report by the Dutch Animal Health Service, both swine fever and circovirus played important roles along with PRRS or Blue-Ear disease in the outbreaks of animal diseases in China.

Pig diseases in the country have killed nearly 100 percent of young animals, driving pork prices to skyrocket.

Recent tests revealed that 25 to 50 percent of pigs that are 30, 65 and 105 days old respectively died from the virus.

Sows are also giving birth to dead piglets which are infected with the virus.

Tom Duinhof, swine specialist at the Dutch Health Service, said that the virus found in these animals varies from the strain in Europe and the US.

Duinhof explained that although it is unclear whether the change in PRRS virus is the reason for severe symptoms of the pigs, there is a possibility that the change in virus is recent and appeared in 2006.

He added that an RNA-virus changes quickly and which is difficult to counteract.

PRRS causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs. Initially referred to as mystery swine disease and mystery reproductive syndrome, it was first reported in 1987 in North America and Central Europe.