PRRSV and PCV-2 Infections in Greek Swine Farms: Clinical forms and vaccination programmes

Abstract

The presence of PRRS, in association with PRDC and PCV-2 Diseases (including mainly PMWS and PDNS), increased the cost of Greek pork meat production. During the last three years, a high number of PRRS cases in vaccinated farms were noticed with severe respiratory clinical signs in growing/finishing pigs and with moderate reproductive form in sows. These outbreaks can probably be due to the entrance of «new» PRRSV isolates in farms, which were more virulent and/or recombined with the pre-existed isolates.
PCV-2 Diseases including mainly PMWS and PDNS, continue to have a strong economic impact, probably by interaction or synergism with other respiratory pathogens, mainly with «new» isolates of PRRSV. PCVD increase the enteric and respiratory problems, reduce the growth rates and increase the mortality rates in weaning and growing pigs. Furthermore, during the last years, even more reproductive disorders in breeding stock resulting from PCV-2 have been recorded.
Mass vaccinations against PRRSV and PCV-2 in sows and suckling or weaning pigs have beneficial effects in Greek swine farms, improving their health status, reproductive performance and productivity.