Porcine
Epidemic Diarrhea
What you need to know about Porcine Epidemic
Diarrhea Virus (PEDV). Additional, periodic updates will be sent as new and
relevant information is available.
PEDV was confirmed for the first time in U.S.
swine herds in mid-May 2013. While PEDV is not a new swine disease globally, it
is new to the United States (see most recent states/cases by going to this webpage http://www.aasv.org/pedv/PEDv_weekly_report_140319.pdf.
Key Points about PEDV
● It is widespread in many countries.
● It is not a trade-restricting disease.
● It may appear clinically to be the same as
transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus with acute diarrhea.
● Producers who suspect that their herd may
be infected should work with their herd
veterinarian immediately.
● As always, strict biosecurity protocols should be maintained.
● Additional key facts from the American
Association of Swine Veterinarians, can be found at http://www.aasv.org/aasv%20website/Resources/Diseases/PED/PED--AASVQF052313.pdf
.
How to Protect Your Farm from PEDV
● Current research says the virus is spread
by the fecal-oral route. The most common sources
of infected feces coming onto a farm are
pigs, trucks, boots, clothing, or other things that can
physically move it.
● Field reports suggest in some instances
virus is being spread by ineffective washing and
disinfecting of trucks used to transport pigs
to/from farms or markets. Pay particular attention
to biosecurity during transportation.
● Resources pertaining to biosecurity and
livestock production can be found online on pork.
org in the Transport Quality Assurance Handbook, and at the National Biosecurity
Resource
Center. Transporters can find guidance on boot disinfection, actively
search for disinfectants
by manufacturer, disinfectant class or by
disease, or locate truck washes by state. Additional
information on biosecurity can be found
online at Iowa State University's Center for Food
Security and Public Health.
● Be especially diligent about the
cleanliness of feed, service and other personnel and visitors
who enter your farm. Restrict access unless
necessary.
● Additional biosecurity recommendations
should include:
·
Restricting traffic (people and equipment) onto the farm
·
Thoroughly clean and disinfect anything coming onto the farm
·
Maintain strict biosecurity practices at all times, including
proper disinfection. (Products such as:
Tek-Trol, 1Stroke Environ, Virkon S, Chlorox and Synergize1 may work well.)*
·
Maintaining a log of visitors
·
Taking care when disposing of dead stock, particularly if using a
communal disposal method
·
Isolating newly arriving animals and continuing vet-to-vet
discussions about animal health at the herd of origin
·
Showering into the facility where practical and changing into
clean boots and coveralls
● Clinical signs range from watery diarrhea
and vomiting in nursing pigs and farrowing houses
to transient diarrhea and off feed in
finishing. Most pigs in any phase of production will
become sick and death loss in nursing pigs
could approach 100 percent.
● If you see diarrhea in any phase of
production, contact your veterinarian immediately to get
laboratory confirmation.
● Your veterinarian will take samples from
the herd to submit for diagnosis. PED can look much
like Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE) with
laboratory confirmation being the only way to
differentiate the two.
● To better help understand how
the virus moves between herds, it is
important to provide your National
Premises Identification Number on the
diagnostic lab submission form with the note that you agree that
the lab
results can be used in a confidential and secure manner for
further disease
analysis. The laboratory will not do so unless you tell them that
they have
your permission. It will be extremely helpful to understanding
this disease
if you will give them that permission. All information will be
handled in a
strictly confidential and secure manner.
● Follow your veterinarian's advice on how to
care for any sick or infected animals.
● Provide a clean, dry, draft-free
environment.
● Provide access to high-quality drinking
water. Supplementing the water with electrolytes may
be
beneficial.
