DETECTION AND CONTROL OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS AND EMERGING VIRAL DISEASES OF SWINE

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is the most devastating disease of swine in the USA. Successful completion of the project aims will result in enhanced control of PRRS. Benefits will include reduced animal suffering, thus enhancing health and well-being. Swine producers will experience improved economic gain due to reduction in animal losses and more efficient pork production. The greatest impact of the successful conclusion of this research will be new paradigms for the control of swine viral respiratory infections. Progress toward this goal will proceed through the successful accomplishment of specific aims and milestones described later in this proposal. The creation and operation of a virtual university environment where investigators share data and ideas has been effected by the PRRS CAP programs. A major milestone for this NC229 renewal will be to expand this network to address the real industry problem of complex swine viral respiratory infections that result in PRDC. A second milestone will be risk assessment projects that will demonstrate new protocols and management techniques for the control and elimination from herds of swine viral respiratory infections.