Experts are baffled whether these diseases are an influx or a redux since these have become perennial nowadays.  They admit that understanding its complexities may take some time since the genetic makeup of these maladies has become more complicated.  Yet, they are hopeful that the mysteries of TGE and PED will gradually be decoded to cut down more damages.

 

 

According to pigsite.com, TGE is a very highly infectious disease in the piglet caused by coronavirus. The TGE virus enters the pig's mouth and multiplies in the villi (finger-like structures in the small intestine) and destroys them. Within 24 to 48 hours, the virus induces vomiting and acute diarrhoea in pigs with a mortality rate of 100% for piglets of up to 14 days. The TGE coronavirus multiplies in the intestine and is shed in the large quantities of faeces, which is the major source of the disease's transmission.

 

PED is similar to TGE as it is also caused by coronavirus. It also causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting in pigs. Compared to TGE, PED is less threatening as mortality is low and it only lasts for a week or so and disappears spontaneously, allowing the pigs to recover fully. Although PED is not a very important disease economically, it being mistaken for TGE is what makes it crucial because farmers may erroneously treat their pigs for TGE.

 

The initial outbreaks of TGE and PED have been documented in the late 1970s up to the early 1980s.  Its repeated occurrence began since 2006 has alarmed the industry as the diseases have relentlessly spread to previously unaffected region of Mindanao. According to Dr. Eugene Mende, president of the Philippine Veterinary Drugs Association, the industry was alarmed over the TGE/PED spread since there has never been a documented coronaviral outbreak in Mindanao. Between 2006 and 2007, Mende said some programs have been successful in containing these ailments which reduced the incidence of TGE and PED particularly on areas that were oft-stricken. However, he admitted that there also have been failures due to poor execution, vague understanding, poor herd immunity and wrong diagnosis. The maladies have thus resulted to an output contraction in 2008 by 1.60% at 13.7 million heads.  The battle continues until now with as production is predicted to decrease again by at least three percent this year.

 

 

Mende conceded that while the TGE/PED incidence decreased, it is however far from viral cleansing. That is why in the second quarter of 2010, reports of viral diarrhoea have resurfaced from some previously infected farms or others from new breaks.

 

Although acute PED and TGE is difficult to distinguish based on clinical findings, Mende said laboratory methods such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and IFT (immunoflourescence technique) are necessary to diagnose specific agents since these two diseases both manifest watery faeces with fetid odour.

 

Moreover, he strongly recommended a good biosecurity programme after an outbreak and a protocol to prevent re-infection. He advised that replacement pigs must be negative from TGE and PED be subjected to sentinel testing during the quarantine period. Sentinels are done by allowing 2- to 3-day old susceptible suckling pigs to stay with the quarantined replacements to assess shedding of TGE/PED virus. Viral shedding is done through blood confirmation and PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Since TGE and PED are not simply viral diarrhoea as this also exhibit symptoms such as coccidiosis, it is truly important for low degrees of lactogenic immunity and poor milk supply among sows are also indicators of TGE/PED presence in farms. If this happens, Mende urged boosting sow maternal immunity and provide maximum piglet colostral and lactogenic protection against the virus.

 

One of the most important procedures in identifying TGE/PED in a herd is using the virus within herd through intestinal feedback programmes which are applied with the help of animal health experts. Though this may sound odd since it involves intestines of infected pigs, this is the best way to detect the presence of TGE/PED in pigs, according to Mende. Since these have been successful in some farms, this scheme may be the best weapon in combating incessant recurrence of TGE and PED.

 

Mende's best advice when TGE/PED hits your farm is not to panic. It may be perilous but can be controlled with good management practices and an assured biosecurity programme. In battling the scourge, Mende said it is always good to stay calm and positive so as not to create more anxiety in an already tension-gripped farm. The process might be painstaking but it allows a farmer to carefully think his steps in dealing with the twin blows of PED and TGE.