PRRS in Pigs from a Key Opinion Leaders perspective

What can we expect from PRRS piglet vaccination

PRRS plays an important part in the porcine respiratory disease complex as it’s a primary agent that causes clinical signs and economic losses. Moreover, PRRS infection in piglets opens the door to secondary infection with a huge impact on farms. We ask the experts how PRRS piglet vaccination helps to control respiratory disease.

What is the best strategy for vaccination of piglets against PRRS?

In order to maximize the efficacy of PRRS piglet vaccination, the experts enlighten us about the time of vaccination, the dynamics of infection in the nursery unit and the role of maternally derived antibodies. Get the most out of PRRS piglet vaccination by following their advice.

Interference of maternal antibodies with piglet vaccination

The presence of maternal antibodies could interfere with PRRS piglet vaccine efficacy. There are options to reduce the interference of maternal antibodies such as 2-shot vaccination, delaying the time of vaccination or the use of an alternative route such as ID vaccination. Listen to the expert to find the keys to this.

Can we vaccinate piglets against different diseases at the same time?

The normal vaccination programme for piglets includes PRRS, Mycoplasma and Circovirus vaccination. So, any system that reduces labour on the farm is much appreciated. But, can the immune system generate immunity against different antigens at once? The experts explain this to us.

Intradermal PRRS vaccination

Intradermal vaccination against PRRS with a needle-free device is a step forward in PRRS vaccination. It brings advantages in terms of the limitation of spread of viruses and bacteria, improved welfare for piglets, greater efficacy and happier farmers. Discover what the experts think about intradermal PRRS vaccination.

Sequencing in PRRS control

Sequencing is a powerful diagnostic tool that today is used on a regular basis to monitor PRRS. What kind of information does it provide? It is a basic tool for PRRS virus epidemiology on a company farm, in a region or country. We ask the experts how to interpret sequencing and how to use such a powerful tool.

PRRS virus recombination

Recombination events have been frequently detected across the genome of the PRRS virus, pointing to this phenomenon as a natural explanation for the genetic diversity of the PRRS virus. The increasing use of sequencing will identify more recombination events. The experts help us to understand and interpret the recombination of the PRRS virus.

Alternative samples for monitoring PRRS

One of the pillars for the proper control of PRRS disease consists of regular monitoring of the PRRS virus on the farm. Thus, alternative sampling methods to make the monitoring process easier, faster and cheaper are key. The experts share with us the most up-to-date techniques and sampling methods.