First Detection and Clinical Presentation of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (Pedv) in Serbia

Abstract

During 2015/2016, fecal and intestinal samples from live diseased and/or dead pigs with suspected PEDV and/or TGEV and signs of rotavirus infection were collected from in total seven different farrow-to-finish swine farms located in Northern Serbia region (Vojvodina Province). A total of 14 samples (2 pools per farm) of small intestine with fecal content were submitted to laboratory molecular investigation (multiplex RTPCR). On these farms the clinical signs included the occurrence of diarrhea in suckling and weaned piglets, with weak or no response to the applied antimicrobial therapy. The epidemic of severe diarrhea affecting pigs of all ages on one farrow-to finish swine farm was detected in January 2016. Watery diarrhea in all swine categories was associated with vomiting and a reduction in feed consumption. Diarrheic, gaunt and dehydrated piglets, covered with feces were found in 90% litters. The disease affected most severely the suckling piglets, and the mortality in newborn piglets was up to 35%. In the weaned piglets and fatteners the mortality was up to 2.5% and 1.2%, respectively. The PEDV RNA was detected in pooled feces and samples of small intestines derived from diseased and dead suckling piglets from only one investigated farm. The PEDV positive samples showed to be negative for rotavirus group A and TGEV. The transport vehicles were identified as the main possible route of PEDV introduction. This is the first report demonstrating the presence of PEDV in Serbia.

The emergence of porcine epidemic diarrhoea in Croatia: molecular characterization and serology

“…This paper brings data on the first PED outbreak, molecular characterization of the detected PEDV strain and the subsequent serological workup. The first Croatian PEDV outbreak was reported later than in other western European countries [12], in the timeframe similar to Hungary [18] and Serbia [19]. However, the possibility of previous PEDV circulation cannot be excluded due to the general underreporting of gastrointestinal pig diseases in Croatia.…”

African Swine Fever: A Biosecurity Challenge for Domestic Pig Production in Serbia

“…Smallholdings and backyards represent about 60% of the domestic pig holdings in Serbia. In the villages, mixed backyard farming systems are common, with diff erent livestock (pigs, sheep, cattle, chicken) and cropping systems, and with a focus on subsistence farming (Prodanov-Radulović et al, 2015; Prodanov- Radulović et al, 2017a). Th e primary purpose for keeping pigs is regular family meat supply but also an extra income.…”

“…Th e introduction and purchase of new animals (piglets, breeding animals) does not imply quarantine measures and health controls. Moreover, due to stables' construction characteristics, the vehicles that transport food or animals to the slaughterhouse have to enter directly the farm perimeter (Prodanov-Radulović et al, 2017a). Th e most important risk factors that promote the introduction and spread of the ASFV are multiple: poor farming practices and low biosecurity, introduction of purchased pigs from internal trade with no quarantine measures, human activities and factors oft en related to society and the cultural background of the farmers (EFSA, 2019;Zani et al, 2019).…”

Current Swine Respiratory Diseases Morphology in Intensive Swine Production in Serbia

“…In Serbia, commercial pig farrow-to fi nish farm systems are characterized by the presence of various predisposing factors, which signifi cantly infl uence the occurrence of respiratory diseases [28][29][30]. Compared to multi-site production systems, in farrow-to fi nish swine farms more opportunities for pathogens, environment and management interactions exist [24,25,31].…”

“…Compared to multi-site production systems, in farrow-to fi nish swine farms more opportunities for pathogens, environment and management interactions exist [24,25,31]. Today, despite the introduction of modern vaccines against the most important agents causing respiratory diseases of swine (for example M. hyopneumoniae, PCV-2, PRRSV) and all efforts implemented from the production aspect in the technology in the swine industry, the situation is even more complicated [29,[32][33][34]. It is a well-known fact that various infectious agents could quite often be introduced into the swine herd after purchasing latently infected animals from another farm with a different health status, causing an outbreak of infectious disease [23,35,36].…”