Highlights

Symptoms/Transmission/Diagnosis

• PEDv can affect all types of pigs, resulting in dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea (symptoms may be severe in very young piglets to very mild/non-existent in finishing pigs)
  • Similarity in symptoms to other gastroenteric diseases means that laboratory confirmation is required for proper diagnosis
• PEDv is primarily transmitted through feces and direct contact between infected and non-infected animals

Mortality/Recovery

• Mortality rates for piglets up to 10 days of age can be up to 100%, dropping to less than 10% for piglets older than 10 days and less than 5% for adult and finishing pigs
• Infected pigs that survive generally recover within 7-10 days

Prevention/Vaccination/Treatment

• PEDv is prevented by proper biosecurity practices (particularly controlling exposure to trailers returning from infected sites)
• Vaccines can be used if available to reduce clinical signs
  • Maternal antibodies may be transferred to piglets via colostrum
• No specific treatments available outside of mitigating the effects of dehydration by ensuring plentiful clean water is available at all times

Risk to Human Health/Food Safety?

• This disease is only infectious to swine and poses no threat to humans
• Pork products from PEDv affected herds are safe to eat

Federally Reportable?

No

PEDv is monitored by SHO under the Swine Health Area Regional Control (SHARC) program. All producers should enroll in the program to facilitate traceability of PEDv in Ontario. Visit www.swinehealtharc.ca for more information.