As part of its continuing goal of updating Asian hog farmers on the scientific findings on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Boehringer Ingelheim held its 5th Asian PRRSpective Symposium at Bangkok's Renaissance Hotel on May 10th.
More than 400 hog farmers, veterinary product distributors and other swine-industry stakeholders from China, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand attended the one-day event.
Speakers included PRRS experts from the United States, China, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. Prof. Michael Murtaugh of the University of Minnesota, a globally respected immunologist from the University of Minnesota USA, spoke about the "challenges and progress in immunological control of PRRS." He concluded that up to now only modified live PRRS vaccines were shown to induce a sound immune response, which is the foundation of solid protection against PRRS.
Prof. Hanchun Yang of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University briefed participants about the current PRRS situation in China, telling them how the disease caused untold losses to Chinese swine farmers.
From Vietnam, Prof. Thanh Long To of the National Center for Veterinary Diagnosis at the Department of Animal Health in Hanoi, reported a similar situation in his country. He revealed that last year, Vietnam culled over 460,000 pigs believed to be infected with highly-pathogenic PRRS (HP-PRRS). While the problem laid low during the first quarter of this year, it returned this April in three previously affected provinces. Another representative from Vietnam, Dr. Anan Lertwilai, vice president of CP Vietnam Livestock presented approaches on "Practical PRRS Prevention and Control Strategies." As he could not personally attend the symposium, the lecture was held for him by Dr. Watchara Jirasuttisarn, senior veterinarian in the company.
A Filipino swine consultant, Dr. Reynaldo Galban, also presented a case study in which he was able to reduce mortality caused by PRRS in a 6,000 sow farm in the Philippines with vaccination.
For its part, Thailand, through Dr. Winai Thongmak of the Thai Department of Livestock Development, shared with participants the country's experience in its mass vaccination of pigs against PRRS.
Dr. Thomas G. Gillespie, owner and founder of Rensselaer Swine Services in the US capped the one-day symposium with practical tips on preventing the spread of PRRS in hog farms.
Being global market leader in PRRS control, Boehringer Ingelheim feels responsible to provide a platform for knowledge exchange and practical discussions. The Asian PRRSpective contributes to this commitment and based on their feedback, the attending swine experts enjoyed the exhausting but fruitful event. According to Asian Agribiz, Asia PRRSpective is the largest regional forum that addresses issues concerning Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, a contagious pig disease that results in huge economic loss to the Asia's swine sector.
