7 Story Idea? Contact Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Pork | October 2024 SPOTLIGHT ON PORK RESEARCH Today, science is tasked with making pork production faster, easier, cheaper and greener – so, no pressure! Fortunately, researchers are good at rising to the challenge, and for proof, look no further than two current projects aimed at safeguarding pigs and the planet. Infection protection As most farmers know, PED (Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea) is a highly contagious viral disease of swine, causing diarrhea and vomiting in pigs and significant mortality in nursing piglets. At its worst, the virus can result in up to 100 per cent of nursing piglets dying over three to five weeks. In the absence of an effective PED vaccine, the industry requires one that is affordable, efficient and easy to apply, and that’s the focus of the project “Development of an oral vaccine to protect piglets against infection with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus.” “For this study, we’re trying two different approaches in developing a PED vaccine, both using a plant-based delivery system,” says Dr. Doug Cossar, vice-president of research for PlantForm Corporation. “One involves harnessing the power of VLPs – virus-like particles that are versatile, safe, and highly effective vaccine platforms – to battle PED. The other approach uses a PED virus spike protein, which plays an important role in limiting virus attachment and fusion to target cells.” Of course, to claim success in a project like this, there is one small requirement: the vaccine must be usable. For pork producers, that means it is affordable and easy to apply. Scientists aim to cover both bases by creating a vaccine at the lowest possible cost. Because it is contained in plant tissue, we need only to dry the plant and add it to the sows' feed. By giving one application a month before the sow gives birth and a second one two weeks later, farmers should achieve a high level of protection in the milk that sows are feeding to their piglets. If the project succeeds, it could save producers a bundle in the event of a worst-case scenario. “At the moment, PED infection of a swine operation forces farmers to shut the facility down, sterilize it and essentially start again from scratch,” says Cossar. “This is quite expensive, so it has a major economic impact on the business.” In addition, the new approach would preclude the need for staff to inject every single animal in a swine operation, which is both expensive for the producer and unpleasant for the worker. Perhaps most importantly, though some producers haven’t seen PED in years, the strategy devised by this study could apply to other pathogens that infect pigs orally, such as rotavirus. In other words, it’s not just about dealing with the present; it’s about preparing for the future. “Our method for creating this antigen is fast. If someone spots a potential problem with another pathogen onfarm, we can likely develop a vaccine for it in two to three months. If it’s a disease that could devastate the pork industry in Canada, we can produce something even sooner, which may represent a lifesaver for the industry. The approach we are taking also improves specificity, so you don’t need to vaccinate against all viruses all of the time. Instead, you can immunize against the particular threat that exists today. In essence, producers will be responding in real-time to what is actually happening on their farm rather than what they think might be there.” Like most good research studies, this one involves collaboration. “Dr. Rima Menassa (research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada [AAFC] at the London Research and Development Centre in London, Ont.) has played a critical role in this project. Without her participation, the study would never have occurred.” It’s not easy being green A livable planet is like your soon-tobe-ex-spouse: You only value them when they’re gone. At present, Canadian agriculture A potential PED vaccine for sows could protect their piglets from the virus. Jodie Aldred photo Doug Cossar
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