This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on viral diseases affecting pigs.
The first chapter summarises recent research on the causes and epidemiology of major bacteria, viruses and parasites found in pig production, focussing on those with a particular impact on safety and global production, such as African swine fever, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED).
The second chapter reviews advances in understanding mechanisms of porcine viral disease transmission and pathogenesis. The chapter concludes with commonly used measures for prevention and control of viral diseases of pigs, emphasizing the importance of the vaccination programs as cornerstone of swine health programs.
The third chapter discusses our current understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to the major respiratory diseases affecting pigs, including PRRS. The chapter considers the use of marker-selection and genetic modification as mechanisms to prevent the infection of PRRS and reduce its impact on swine health.
The final chapter considers the transmission, clinical presentation, evolution and spread of two major diseases affecting swine production - PRRS and PED. The chapter reviews the impact of each virus on a global scale, as well as its impact on swine production in the United Kingdom.
This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on viral diseases affecting pigs.
Chapter 1 - Diseases affecting pigs: an overview of common bacterial,
viral and parasitic pathogens of pigs: Alejandro Ramirez, Iowa State
University, USA; 1 Introduction 2 The most common bacterial pathogens in pig
production: gram-negative bacteria 3 The most common bacterial pathogens in
pig production: gram-positive bacteria 4 The most common viral pathogens in
pig production 5 The most common parasitic pathogens in pig production 6 Case
studies 7 Summary 8 Future trends 9 Where to look for further information 10
References
Chapter 2 - Advances in understanding mechanisms of porcine viral disease
transmission/epidemiology: Joaquim Segales, Autonomous University of
Barcelona, Spain; 1 Introduction 2 Phenotypic characteristics of swine
viruses 3 Methods to identify and classify swine viruses 4 Pathogenesis of
swine viruses 5 Transmission of swine viruses 6 Clinical signs and lesions of
swine viral infections 7 Diagnosis of swine viral infections 8 Prevention and
control of swine viral infections 9 Conclusions 10 References
Chapter 3 - Understanding mechanisms of resistance to respiratory disease in
pigs: Raymond Rowland, Kansas State University, USA; 1 Introduction 2 PRRS
and respiratory disease complex (PRDC) 3 The lung macrophage as the target
for PRRSV infection 4 CD163: a functional marker for anti-inflammatory M2
macrophages and a receptor for PRRSV 5 The PRRS Host Genetics Consortium
(PHGC) and the search for host genes affecting the response to PRRSV
infection 6 The WUR marker and its association with guanylate binding protein
5 (GBP5) 7 The interplay between PRRSV, M1 and M2 macrophages, CD163 and GBP5
in the onset and recovery from acute respiratory disease 8 PRRSV resistance
through modification of CD163 9 Genetic association between the pig genome
and PCV2 and swIAV 10 Summary and future trends 11 Where to look for further
information 12 References
Chapter 4 - Changing patterns of disease affecting pigs: Porcine Reproductive
and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED): Carla
Correia-Gomes, Scotlands Rural College, UK; 1 Introduction 2 Porcine
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) 3 PRRS virus in the United
Kingdom 4 Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) 5 Epidemiological presentation of
PED 6 Conclusion 7 Where to look for further information 8 Acknowledgements 9
References
Dr Joaquim Segalés is Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and Researcher at the Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (IRTA-CReSA), Spain.
