Infective Material, Concepts and Procedures for Intentional Sow Herd Exposure to Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

December 24, 2013 — 

The authors describe a field-based strategy to enhance sow herd immunity to PEDv in herds suffering a recent outbreak. The goals of the program are to 1) establish herd immunity to minimize the time period of baby pig deaths by infecting and recovering all sows and gilts in as short of time frame as possible; and 2) ensure all sows and gilts are on the same timeline to immunity and cessation of shedding of PEDv within the population. To rapidly achieve herd immunity, it is necessary that EACH and EVERY sow and gilt on the premises be infected to develop active immunity. Therefore, initial outbreaks in na�ve herds are managed by whole-herd exposure to virus-containing fecal material from affected pigs by a swift and consistent method to assure exposure, infection and immunity. This paper has been posted on the AASV PEDv web page thanks to the generosity of the authors.

Authors: Kent Schwartz, DVM, MS (Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames IA); Steve Henry, DVM, Dipl ABVP, Lisa Tokach, DVM, Dipl ABVP and Megan Potter, DVM, PhD (Abilene Animal Hospital PA, Abilene KS); Don Davidson, DVM, MS and Cody Egnor, DVM (PFFJ, LLC Taylor AZ)