PEDv Actions For Producers

HAS PEDv ENTERED YOUR BARN?
PEDv virus usually spreads quickly amongst pigs within a herd. Clinical signs vary based on different ages of pigs:
Sows: Watery diarrhea, loose feces, vomiting, off feed
Nursing Piglets: Diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, affected pigs appear skinny, high mortality
Weaners and Growers: Mild clinical signs: acute watery diarrhea with no blood or mucus, vomiting, off feed, possible elevation in mortality
Finishing Pigs: Very mild clinical signs: any level of abnormal diarrhea, that may only last a few days without expected increases in mortality

Once you have noticed clinical signs in your barn DO NOT SHIP and IMMEDIATELY contact your veterinarian. They will conduct a walk through, collect samples and send them to the lab for testing. If the sample is positive you will typically know within 24-36 hours of the sample arriving at the lab.

You should consider the following action items with both a suspected and confirmed case of PEDv:
1. DO NOT SHIP YOUR PIGS!
2. Contact your processor to develop an orderly marketing plan if you need to ship hogs that are shedding PEDv.
3. Contact your transporter to develop a movement plan for your animals if they need to be moved for marketing or to another facility.
4. Contact your various suppliers to avoid potentially spreading PEDv.
5. Connect with nearby swine operations to inform them of the situation.
6. Discuss with your veterinarian a containment strategy. No two sites are identical; you will need a site-specific plan.
a. Can the barn be emptied and cleaned according to the highest standard wash/inspection/disinfection procedures?
    i. Can the barn be whitewashed or limed to ensure the barn is fully disinfected?
b. If the barn cannot be emptied, reload the site, recognizing that the pigs will become infected and will likely show clinical signs.
    i. It is important that the site be ‘locked down,’ in other words all external contact with the farm must be handled with high caution, including all service people, feed delivery, deadstock pickup and pig transport, until it is ascertained that your pigs are no longer shedding the virus.
   ii. Prior to marketing, pigs should be tested for PEDv and results communicated to the processor and transporter.

IS PED NEAR YOUR BARN?
Everyday biosecurity measures are crucial to protecting your herd from PEDv. This virus loves cold weather, so biosecurity is even more important in the winter for controlling PEDv. Remember that people move this virus. The line of protection is AT THE BARN DOOR.
Protect your herd, and other herds, by:
1. Reviewing and/or adjusting your biosecurity protocols with your veterinarian and staff.
a. Limiting traffic (people and equipment) onto the farm.
b. Showering into the facility where practical and changing into clean boots and coveralls.
c. Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting anything coming onto or leaving the farm.
d. Ensuring all trucks that are allowed on your farm are washed, disinfected, and dried before arrival.
e. Minimizing the number of visitors and maintaining a log of visitors.
f. Use lime at the point of transfer between the barn and the outside.
g. Removing deadstock is a high-risk activity.
    i. Take all necessary steps to avoid cross contamination at the point of deadstock transfer. Do not step outside the barn or onto the loader with barn boots. Keep hands off of the outside equipment.
    ii. Keep the deadstock bin away from the barn. Transfer the deadstock with a loader tractor and disinfect this prior to returning to the barn site. Have deadstock pick up off site.
h. Isolating newly arriving animals and continuing vet to vet discussions about animal health at the herd of origin.

2. Reviewing biosecurity procedures with all staff, suppliers and general contractors visiting your barn/site.

3. Reviewing the importance of monitoring and reporting any possible clinical signs with your staff. Report anything abnormal to your veterinarian immediately.

4. Minimizing the need to pick up pigs from multiple locations, whenever possible.

5. Make sure that your transporter is aware of your transport biosecurity requirements, including the need for washed equipment and protocols drivers are expected to follow.

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