Vietnam: Clinical symptoms of Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)

According to Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development of Vietnam, the incubation period of PRRS ranges from 3 to 40 days, typically around 14 days, with the following clinical symptoms:

- Sows in the drying-off stage: Affected sows may have reduced or loss of appetite, a fever above 40°C, coughing, and pneumonia. They may experience late-term abortions, deliver premature or weak piglets, exhibit false heat, have reduced or delayed return to estrus after farrowing.

- Sows in the farrowing and nursing stage: They may show reduced or loss of appetite, be lethargic, have decreased water intake, appear depressed or in a comatose state, experience loss of milk production and mammary gland inflammation. They may deliver piglets prematurely (around 2-3 days earlier), have mummified fetuses, and have piglets die shortly after birth.

- Breeding boars: Affected boars may have reduced or loss of appetite, a fever above 40°C, be restless or in a comatose state, show decreased libido, have low semen quantity, poor semen quality, and produce small piglets.

- Piglets nursing from infected sows: Many piglets may die shortly after birth, while surviving piglets may appear weak and underweight, quickly develop hypoglycemia due to inadequate suckling, have brownish-colored urine, exhibit skin lesions, experience diarrhea, have an increased risk of respiratory diseases, and show splayed legs and trembling while walking.

- Suckling piglets and weaned piglets: They may show reduced or loss of appetite, a fever above 40°C (104°F), mild coughing, and rough hair coat. In some herds, symptoms may not be present.

View the handling of affected pigs at Circular No. 07/2016/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development of Vietnam, effective from July 15, 2016.

- Thanh Lam -

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