Dr. Brent Pepin, NPB’s director of swine health, takes a deep dive into managing Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRSV). NPB has played a key role in advancing PRRSV research and supporting producers with resources to mitigate disease risks.
Background Information
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been a devastating disease for pork producers since its discovery in 1991. PRRSV continues to be a major challenge affecting production, pig health and welfare. PRRSV infection can cause respiratory disease and mortality in pigs of all ages and reproductive losses in adult breeding pigs. Poor production parameters, such as reduced average daily gain, decreased feed efficiency and increased health costs, can be attributed to PRRSV infection. According to a 2012 economic assessment, annual production losses attributed to PRRSV have totaled more than $664 million from 2006-2010, and other associated costs have amounted to an additional $477 million. This means PRRSV costs producers more than $1 billion a year.
Research on PRRSV is critical to better understand its structure, function and effect on the immune system, including how the virus is transmitted between and within animals and herds, how infection occurs and how the virus persists in the environment. To provide needed knowledge for management and elimination of PRRSV, producers participating in swine health committees and working groups made a strong commitment to use Checkoff funds for PRRSV research. Since 1997, Checkoff funds have supported 259 PRRSV research projects totaling more than $17.1 million. This PPRSV research has helped support scientists in many different universities, USDA laboratories and private facilities in the United States and abroad.
Managing PRRSV remains one of the biggest challenges in swine health, requiring ongoing research, collaboration and innovative strategies to reduce its impact. NPB has played a key role in advancing PRRSV research and supporting producers with resources to mitigate disease risks.
Get to Know Dr. Brent Pepin, NPB, Director of Swine Health
To dive deeper into this topic, we spoke with Dr. Brent Pepin, NPB’s director of swine health. With a background in veterinary medicine and swine health research, Pepin works closely with producers, veterinarians and industry experts to improve disease management strategies.
Before joining NPB, Pepin earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degrees from Iowa State University. His career has allowed him to engage with both producers and researchers to help improve swine health.
Let’s get to know Pepin and read his insights on PRRSV.
Q&A
Q: What inspired you to work in swine health, and what excites you most about your role?
A: After working with gene editing technology and swine, I realized how much I missed working in commercial swine medicine and production. Joining the swine health team at NPB gave me the opportunity to apply my veterinary and research experience to support the industry. I’m especially passionate about working alongside producers and veterinarians to develop strategies that improve herd health and mitigate disease challenges.
Q: Can you share some of the big projects you’re currently working on?
A: I currently oversee the PRRSV Advisory Group at NPB. This group brings together producers, veterinarians, researchers and members of the AASV PRRSV committee. We’re trying to identify boots-on-the-ground knowledge gaps that we have in relation to moving the needle on PRRSV control, treatment and bioexclusion. Another project I work on is helping producers purchase RFID reader equipment, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture for cull sow plants, sorting stations and exhibition sites.
Q: What is PRRSV, and why is it such a challenge for pork producers?
A: PRRSV is a devastating virus that continues to cost the pork industry in production losses each year. A recent study from Dr. Holtkamp from Iowa State University highlights the massive burden it imposes. PRRSV represents a management challenge because the available vaccines do not provide complete protection against the virus, it spreads easily through multiple routes and the virus can change faster than we can react.
Q: What progress has been made in PRRSV research?
A: Since its discovery in the 1990s, extensive research has been conducted on PRRSV, leading to improvements in biosecurity practices, diagnostic testing and virus elimination strategies. We now have better PRRSV testing methods that allow for faster detection and more sample type options. Research has also helped us understand how to stabilize and eliminate the virus from sow farms after an outbreak, though the economic and production losses remain significant. However, as the virus continues to evolve, some established management practices appear to be less effective, underscoring the need for continued research and innovation.
Q: What can producers do to manage PRRSV in their herds?
A: Practice strong biosecurity practices every day and work closely with their herd veterinarian. We know the major ways PRRSV spread — through fomites such as boots and clothes, contaminated trucks, trailers and equipment, and through aerosol. Any practice that helps reduce the risk of known transmission routes will help protect the farm from not only PRRSV but other endemic diseases as well. If a farm does experience an outbreak with PRRSV, working with your veterinarian to establish proper treatment interventions is important along with discussions regarding if vaccination is an appropriate tool for the farm. Communication with neighboring farms is always encouraged, so when possible and applicable, different trucking or delivery routes can be used to reduce the spread.
Q: Tell us more about the NPB PRRSV Advisory Group.
A: One of the main goals of this group is to outline the knowledge and research gaps we still have on PRRSV at the field level. We want to figure out what information is missing from producers and veterinarians in the barns that would deliver a more effective PRRSV response and reduce the economic and production impacts of the disease. This group will also help advise the NPB leadership team and Board of Directors on the best place to direct funds to help the industry better control and manage PRRSV.
Q: How can producers learn more about PRRSV or get involved in industry efforts?
A: Producers can stay informed by engaging with NPB’s swine health team. If you’re interested in serving on a task force or committee — whether for PRRSV or other swine health topics — reach out to NPB. Additionally, producers should explore resources like the Pork Checkoff website for research summaries and stay involved in initiatives such as U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP), AgView® and the Certified Swine Sample Collector program.
For additional questions or to learn more, contact Dr. Pepin at bpepin@pork.org.
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