PRRS White Paper issued

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome – or PRRS – is the most significant disease problem facing the swine industry worldwide. Yet, nearly 20 years after its discovery, there has been little success in developing economical and effective control strategies for this highly variable viral disease.


But, a White Paper just released, voices the view that if future research proceeds along suggested pathways, effective vaccine strategies could reach the market within the next 5 to 10 years.


22 experts
The paper is the result of the consideration of 22 national experts in PRRS, virology, immunology, and vaccinology.


The group discussed the state of current knowledge about PRRS vaccinations at the invitation of the University Of Illinois College Of Veterinary medicine.


The group included clinical veterinarians, academic researchers, and vaccine industry scientists. The resulting white paper represents a significant advance in achieving scientific consensus on the knowledge gaps that must be addressed.


Future key areas
The White Paper identifies key areas for future research – include identifying the mechanisms by which the PRRS virus causes disease – and the components of the virus that play a role in inducing protective immunity.


In the United States alone, PRRS is estimated to have an economic impact between 560 million and 762 million dollars annually on pork producers.