The efficacy of the vaccination-eradication programme in maintaining a pigfarms status as being free from Aujeszky's disease virus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of control serologic al examinations in maintaining a pig farm's status as being free from Aujes zky's disease virus - Herpesvirus suis type 1 (SHV-1), through realising a vaccination - eradication programme. The studies were carried out in the bi ggest large-scale pig farm in Poland - farm B., having over 2000 reproducti ve pigs, where SHV-1 was eliminated using the above programme and at which further procedures in preventing SHV-1 reintroduction to farm B. were expla ined. Blood samples for serological examinations were taken randomly from 5 % reproductive pigs and 5 fattening pigs from every fattening house. Serolo gical examinations using gE-ELISA - Pseudorabies Virus gpI Antibody Test Ki t (Herd Chek Anti - PRV gpI), IDEXX Lab. Inc. USA were performed. in 1999, three control examinations 4 months apart were undertaken on 653 pigs. Sero logical examinations revealed that the pig herd in farm B, was free from SH V-1, which proved the efficacy of the vaccination - eradication programme. The article discusses the risk factors involved in the realisation of Aujes zky's disease (AD) eradication programmes as well as stressing the need to continue pig vaccinations in herds free from SHV-1 where there exists the r isk of reinfection. It also emphasises the necessity to start the realisati on of national AD eradication programme as soon as possible in the light of the imminent acceptance of Poland into the European Union.