A survey of South Island pig herds for serological evidence of Aujeszky's disease

Authors: O'Hara PJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 9, pp 150-151, Sep 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Disease surveillance, Viral
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Aujeszky`s disease (AD) was first diagnosed in New Zealand in 1976. While clinical AD has been uncommon and the disease has had no appreciable impact on the production of pigmeat for the domestic market, the presence of infection denies New Zealand pigmeat access to a number of overseas markets. Access to these could be obtained if meat were derived from herds certified free from AD. AD is notifiable in New Zealand and no cases have ever been reported in the South Island. This, coupled with the results of an earlier survey, led Animal Health Division to believe that AD did not exist in the South Island. It was considered, therefore, that South Island pig herds could meet export market requirements subject to sufficiently convincing conformation of their freedom from AD. When AD is present in a herd, it is highly probable that more than one animal will be infected because of the contagious nature of the disease. AD virus maintains itself within a herd through an endemic cycle of transmission from chronicallyinfected sows to their offspring…

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