Published June 15, 2014 | Version v1
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WHY ELIMINATION OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORYSYNDROME (PRRS) IN SLOVENE FARMS FAILED?

Creators

  • 1. University of Ljubljana, Veterinary faculty, Institute for health care of pigs, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Description

Slovenia was free of PRRS before joining European Union (EU) in 2004. In EU quarantine for animals coming from other EU members is not mandatory and thus quarantine-free import of pigs from EU member countries unfortunately worsened the health status of pigs in our country. This is how diseases were and still are introduced in Slovenia. Antibodies against PRRS were detected in Slovene domestic pigs already in the second half of the year 2004. In 2010 as part of monitoring and in 2011 according to the annual Order the status of PRRS in Slovenia had been re-established. In both studies the PRRS antibody prevalence was 48% and results from molecular epidemiology originating from the same monitoring detected high genetic diversity which revealed the circulation of numerous subtypes all belonging to genotype 1. And in year 2012 genotype 2 was detected for the first time. Regarding these data both the quarantines and biosecurity measures were not implemented in farms. The study was carried out on 24 (5 negative, 19 positive) farms to evaluate the implementation of required biosecurity measures. On the positive farms for the elimination of PRRS either natural exposure or serum inoculation and strict biosecurity measures were proposed. On the negative farms only biosecurity measures were proposed. Five of the negative farms kept the negative status as a result of the implementation of all the proposed biosecurity measures. In seven positive farms PRRS was eliminated, all these farms adopted the strict biosecurity protocol. In 12 farms neither external nor internal biosecurity measures were implemented at all or at least not to a satisfying level. Hence PRRS and probably also other diseases were easily spreading between the farms and also inside the farms. Main detected deficiencies in biosecurity measures in Slovene farms are: introducing new pigs without quarantine, different categories of pigs in the same room, no consistency with all in all out system, outside traffic in the yard, numerous outside visitors to the farm. Slovenia was not aware of its excellent health status before EU membership and did not take measures to gain the official
PRRS-free status which would definitely result in the economic benefits. Now economic status in pig breeding will not improve without well planned and well thought-out action.

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15. ŠTUKELJ 2014 Vol. 63, No. 1-2 pp. 112-121.pdf

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