April 4, 2014

 

 

The porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv) which was first found in the US last April, has caused losses in swine herds nationwide and is expected to impact the availability of pork products and prices in 2014, according to swine experts at Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

 

PEDv has spread to 27 states despite efforts to combat the disease, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians said.

 

Steve Moeller, an Ohio State University Extension swine specialist said new herds are being infected daily throughout the country, so it's likely that infections will continually be seen in populations not previously exposed to the virus the rest of this year.

 

A member of the coronavirus family, PEDv causes intestinal disease in swine of all ages and high mortality in young pigs - especially pre-weaned pigs, for which mortality is almost 100%. The virus is transmitted via contaminated faeces.

 

Because its symptoms - vomiting, diarrhoea, poor appetite, dehydration and depression - are almost identical to transmissible gastroenteritis virus, another coronavirus that sickens pigs, PEDv has been difficult to identify and the only way to distinguish between the viruses is laboratory testing.

 

Moeller said strict biosecurity measures are the best way to prevent transmission among herds and reduce losses, since vaccines have yet to be developed.

 

He added that facilities need to be as clean as possible and proper disinfection needs to be done often to prevent the spread, and reduce viral loads in affected herds, even if the virus has been present before.

 

Moeller also said that swine producers need to understand and regulate the flow of traffic in their facilities to minimise the risk of infection.

 

PEDv does not sicken humans and does not impact the safety of pork products. However, the virus has contributed to a reduction in the number of pigs projected to come to market this year, Moeller said.

 

"Recent projections indicate that PEDv may have reduced the US market hog supply by more than five million pigs in the past six to eight months, coupled with a normal production decline due to seasonal issues with fertility," he said. "This decline is likely to continue through summer. Some packers have indicated they may not slaughter five days a week in coming months, when it can be common to operate a six-day week. There are fewer pigs, so prices at the producer level are already showing significant increases, which are likely going to show up in the retail case as well."

 

The risk of PEDv spread is also likely to impact swine exhibitions at state and county fairs.