Strategy for control and eradication of pig diseases : the example of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in France
The control and eradication of animal diseases rely on the availability of epidemiological knowledge on the transmission routes of the infection and also on the availability of diagnostic and vaccine tools. In the case of classical swine fever, the eradication has been possible in many countries through the application of three major measures: a large vaccination campaign for several consecutive years, followed by a vaccine ban and then a test-and-removal strategy. In parallel, it is important to secure the introduction of pigs from outside: the health status of the imported pigs must be checked carefully. Things are complicated when the disease is caused by a new previously unknown infectious agent occurring in a completely susceptible population. This was the situation with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in France, in 1991. After the discovery of the initial outbreaks in Brittany, the control measures consisted in blocking the farms showing typical signs of the disease. In addition to these measures, the artificial insemination centres (AIC) and nucleus herds were particularly under surveillance to avoid their contamination and the transmission of the infection to other farms buying semen or breeders. However, since the infection may be sub-clinical in up to 20% of infected farms, this strategy only resulted in slowing down the spread of the disease. When a diagnostic tool became available for tracing the infection, the control of the infection was initiated in the regions where the prevalence was low. The programme consisted of animal movement control, test-and-removal strategy, specific surveillance and protection of AIC and nucleus herds. In the region "Pays de Loire" in which 750,000 pigs are reared in 2200 farms, a control programme started in 1993. Seven years later, the prevalence of the infection was maintained below 2%. The final eradication of the infection in this region is under current process. Other French regions took this example for setting up a similar control programme and some of them have already eradicated the infection. These experiences show that some diseases can be controlled even when little is known about its epidemiology and when no vaccine are available.
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
Published: |
s.n.
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Subjects: | L73 - Maladies des animaux, |
Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/512835/ |
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