Scientific research organisation Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) has released a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) vaccine in China
According to CAAS, the G-type triple vaccine was developed by Kazakhstan animal research centre.
CAAS chief researcher Feng Li said that the vaccine was good at preventing both single and mixed infections. The triple vaccine covers the three major pathogens that mostly harm pigs in China.
PEDV is a coronavirus that infects the cells lining the small intestine of a pig causing porcine epidemic diarrhoea, a condition of severe diarrhea and dehydration. Older hogs mostly get sick and lose weight after being infected, whereas newborn piglets usually die within five days of contracting the virus. PEDV cannot be transmitted to humans nor can contaminate the human food supply.
It is estimated that the successful application of the vaccine each year could increase profit for the domestic pig industry by more than US$48.34mn.
PEDV was first discovered in Europe, but has become increasingly problematic in Asian countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand.
