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Vaccines can help combat PEDv this winter

Incidents of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus were drastically lower last summer and fall.  But as substantially colder temperatures have moved in, Dr. Lisa Becton, director of swine health information and research for the National Pork Board says the industry has a close eye on the number of cases being reported.  “What’s this year going to bring – what is this winter is going to bring,” she says.  “We know the virus survives well in cool, damp conditions – so we are expecting to see cases because of the way the virus is.  And we know we always have some turnover in some herds because of naive populations.”

Becton says biosecurity remains the most effective way to combat the virus.  But there are vaccinations available to help sows pass immunity to piglets.

She says research is being done to find out what it takes to build immunity in sow populations.  “Where vaccines fit in – is that it does reduce the mortality,” she says.  “So if a sow herd is boostered with a vaccine – you do see a subsequent reduction in baby pig mortality.  And that really does help a producer.  Even if it is just a little bit – anything that can help is really good.”

Becton tells Brownfield in 2015 – researchers will continue to focus on sow immunity.  She says that research takes longer because they are looking at the lifetime of a sow unlike other research on the virus that could be completed in six months.