Outbreaks of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in adult boars in the Netherlands
Manon Houben, Karlijn Eenink, Lucía Dieste Pérez. Royal GD, Pig Health department, Deventer, The Netherlands
Background & Objectives
In the past three years, three separate oductions of PRRS virus have occurred in PRRSV free semen collection centers in the Netherlands, that have been detected with regular monitoring.
Sampling
A total number of 252 boars was sampled in 3 separate cases.
PRRSV introductions in the semen collection centres was detected by PRRSv PCR or PRRS ELISA and confirmed by sequence of ORF 5 or ORF 2-7 of the PRRSV strain. All strains were identified as field strains. In neither of the three cases introduction was expected, as none of the boars showed clinical signs.
Discussion & Conclusion
These cases show that outbreaks of PRRS virus can occur without any clinical signs in high health adult boars. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to implement an intensive monitoring program in semen collection centers to prevent the spread of PRRSV to sow herds. In development of such a program reliability of the results as well an animal friendly way of sampling should be taken into account.
See also poster: ‘Oral fluid-based early warning system for PRRSv in AI boars’