Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has awarded three, $25,000 research grants to independent swine researchers and practitioners to investigate new ways to control, manage and eradicate porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
“Sound practical research is critical to developing on-farm solutions to PRRS,” says Jens Kjaer, DVM, director of swine sales and marketing for BIVI.
The awards were presented during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. The three recipients of the PRRS research awards are:
Scott Dee, DVM, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN – evaluate air filtration systems for the prevention of PRRS virus transmission by aerosols. The study will also evaluate the ability of standard and modified air filtration systems in preventing aerosol spread of the PRRS virus.
Paul Yeske, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, MN – study the use of tail docking swabs to monitor piglet status for PRRS viremia, and to further assess the stability of the breeding herd and status of pig flow for PRRS virus.
Rodney B. Baker, DVM, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC – study the role of the stable fly in the transmission of the PRRS virus from recently infected pigs to naïve pigs in a controlled model, and to evaluate the potential risk factor of stable flies in the transmission of PRRS virus in spring and fall.
