New studies explore PRRSV and PEDV control and elimination strategies
New research projects are helping the swine industry take important steps toward disease elimination. These projects were selected by the Swine Disease Research task force and align with the National Swine Health Strategy. Their goal is to improve herd health and provide useful information to producers.
The research focuses on two major diseases affecting pigs: PRRSV and PEDV. These diseases continue to challenge pork production and cause economic losses. By studying them, researchers hope to understand how they spread and how they can be controlled.
PRRSV remains one of the costliest swine diseases. New projects will study how outbreak response strategies affect the virus over time. Researchers will look at data such as genetics and production outcomes to understand how management decisions influence recovery and virus changes.
Another focus is vaccination. Scientists will compare different immunization methods, including modified live vaccines and other approaches. The aim is to learn how vaccines impact virus spread, persistence, and the development of new variants.
In addition, researchers will study how vaccination itself may affect virus evolution. This will help producers understand how their decisions may influence future disease risks.
PEDV research takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on vaccines, the main goal is to identify where the virus exists. Scientists will study how common PEDV is across different regions and production stages, including farms where no signs of disease are visible.
These findings will help improve surveillance and guide future control efforts. Knowing where the virus is present will allow better planning for elimination strategies.
Overall, these projects aim to close knowledge gaps and support better decisions on farms. The industry believes that progress through research can lead to healthier pigs and stronger pork production in the future.
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