Friday June 21st, BiomiXin organized a conference delivered in Mailiao for Yunlin Pig Farmers’ association. This lecture, "Recent Changes and Responses to Porcine Circovirus”, was held by professor Cheng-Yao Yang, from the Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology of Chung Hsing National University of Taichung.
Understanding Porcine Circovirus Evolution
During this session, we discussed the dynamics of swine infectious diseases, with a specific focus on Porcine Circovirus (PCV). Professor Yang underlined the distinctions between traditional swine infections and emerging viruses, like PCV2, PCV3 & 4. He emphasized the differences in epidemiology, vaccine efficacy, and diagnostic approaches. In recent years, PCV2 has shifted from circulating type A to type D, but the currently available vaccines are still effective. However, the discovery and circulation of PCV3 and 4 are still under research and the detailed pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. PCV3 primarily causes skin lesions. In the United States, the highest detection rate for testing was identified in oral fluid and embryos. For all these reasons, we highly recommend all farmers to stay informed about these shifts in pathogens and vaccines effectiveness and remain vigilant, regularly inspecting their beasts and focusing on specific symptoms (like skin lesions for the PCV3) for early diagnosis.
Extract of Professor Yang’s presentation:
Innovative Solutions to Enhance Swine Health
Technologies and mechanisms behind some of our solutions, such as RR-Purge, can help to prevent and minimize the effects of these infectious diseases.
This swine feed solution developed by our R&D team stimulates mucosal immunity and enhances interferon secretion, T cell, and B cell immune functions, to prevent virus penetration, inhibit replication, and improve overall immune response in pigs. Thereby, it reduces illness incidence, enhances vaccine effectiveness, and promotes continuous health maintenance in swine facilities. RR-purge not only enhances immunity but also helps generate antibodies against relative viruses (antigens), achieving specific humoral immune effects. This solution therefore helps to improve vaccines effectiveness, accelerates mucosal immunity response, helps to maintain the continuity of feeding, and acts as a prevention to gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases.
Takeaways - Strategies for Sustainable Swine Farming
The purpose of this lecture is to help local swine farmers to set successful control strategies for traditional diseases, the genetic evolution of PCV from PCV2a to PCV2d, and then PCV3 & 4, and global implications for swine health. The presentation insisted on the importance of ongoing surveillance, adaptive vaccine development, and coordinated eradication efforts to effectively manage these diseases and sustain global swine production.
BiomiXin and Yunlin’s Pig Farmers Association have set up this event because we think that understanding these insights is crucial for farmers to adopt sustainable practices in their operations. Knowledge of evolving pathogens like PCV enables farmers to implement targeted vaccination programs tailored to the specific strains prevalent in their regions. They can utilize advanced diagnostic tools to swiftly identify and contain outbreaks --- minimizing economic losses and ensuring herd health. By staying informed about global trends and research advancements in swine pathology, farmers can proactively adjust their biosecurity measures and treatment protocols, contributing to long-term sustainability in pig farming.
Conclusion to this event
To end on a lighter note, this event was then closed by a prize-winning quiz and a meal offered to all the attendees to thank them and allow deeper connection and opportunities for further questions, exchanges and advice to improve the farmer’s businesses.
Farmers of the Yunlin Pig Farmers' Association sharing a meal with our international team
Acknowledgement
To Professor Yang and all 38 attendees, thank you for your presence and for sharing your expertise, insights, questions and feedback on swine infectious diseases. Your contributions are invaluable to the agricultural community to better grasp the complexities of disease management and sustainability in swine production.
Thank you to the whole team, especially to our local seller Mrs. Jia-wen Yang for her successful first presentation with this group.
