Special Report
Veterinarians studying PEDV
A University of Missouri veterinary resident says it’s still not known how Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus entered the U.S. Dr. Josh Schaefer says the disease could be very economically significant to the hog industry because it moves so fast.
“It’s highly contagious to pigs,” explains Schaeffer, “and it tends to kind of spread throughout the entire barn very quickly.”
Known as PEDV, the disease in hogs is similar to Transmissible Gastro Enteritis (TGE). It’s new to the U.S., and Schaefer says veterinarians are learning more about it. He says the mortality rate for young pigs with PEDV is 50-100 percent. The best prevention method is intense biosecurity, but Schaefer says researchers are trying other ways.
“Another thing that’s been used for control is similar to what we use for transmissible gastro enteritis,” says Schaeffer, “and that’s feedback of infected diarrhea back to the adult pigs to try and boost their immunity.”
Thirteen states across the nation have reported more than 100 cases including Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Cases have also been reported from Colorado and even Pennsylvania. There is no effective treatment for PEDV, which causes diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, but Schaeffer suggests that keeping infected pigs hydrated offers the best solution.
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