PEDv vigilance a must as cooler weather arrives in US, Canada

• The spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has slowed down significantly over the warmer, summer months, however, pig industry leaders are warning that pig producers in the United States and Canada not be negligent with their biosecurity efforts as the damper, cooler months arrive.
  In Manitoba alone, two new cases were discovered in the past two weeks, and according to Brad Marceniuk of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the amount of new cases that could be seen this fall in other Canadian provinces continues to be unknown.
  Stefani Garbacik, extension agent from Wayne County, North Carolina, says that the advent of fall brings new risks, as the weather conditions seem to be the ideal time for the virus to spread. She advises that producers not only take necessary steps to assure that herds are free of PED virus, but also that they remain free of PED virus. Those steps include testing all replacement animals, testing the new animals about 30 days after they have commingled with sows, conducting PCR testing of feces, conducting oral fluid testing and bleeding 30 gilts a month for blood testing for four consecutive months.
  PED virus and porcine delta coronavirus are believed to have killed about 8 million piglets in the U.S. since the viruses were discovered in the U.S. in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In response to the virus, pork producers have been improving their biosecurity efforts. Aiding in the battle against PED virus are two PED virus vaccines that have gained approval from the USDA. Those vaccines have been produced by Harrisvaccines and Zoetis.