CONTROL OF AUJESZKYS-DISEASE IN SCHLESWIG -HOLSTEIN .1. AN EFFECTIVE VACCINATION PROGRAM IN A HIGH-INCIDENCE AREA

A programme to eliminate Aujeszky's disease virus from pigs herds in a n endemically infected area of northern Germany, bordering Denmark, wa s initiated in January 1990. It involved the compulsory vaccination of all pigs in the area with gI-deleted vaccines. The prevalence of gI p ositive sows decreased from 27.3% to 3.7% within the first three years . In farrow-to-finish herds the prevalence of infection in finishing p igs decreased from 12.9% to 0% and in feeder-to-finish herds from 3% t o 0.2%. The occurrence of clinical outbreaks was also prevented. In th e second period (1993 to 1995) all gI positive breeding pigs will be e liminated using a mandatory testing programme.