‘Feed backing’ proposed to contain piglets’ virus

MALOLOS CITY — Due to the absence of vaccines that could stop the strange virus killing piglets in Bulacan, the provincial veterinarian proposed the use of "feed backing" and the strict enforcement of bio-security measures in swine farms.

Dr. Felipe Bartolome, head of the provincial veterinary office, told The STAR in a phone interview that at present, the best way to stop "porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED)" is through feeding pregnant hogs at least two weeks before giving birth with intestines from PED-infected piglets.

"It is called feed backing," said Bartolome, who was attending a bird flu workshop in Iloilo City when The STAR contacted him.

Through feed backing, he said it is highly possible that newly born piglets would get immunity from PED and survive.

Earlier, Dr. Hayashi Carillo, head of the veterinary disease prevention and regulatory division of the provincial agriculture office, said a strange diarrhea-causing virus was killing piglets in a number of hog farms in Bulacan.

He also warned that a pork shortage in Metro Manila would likely happen in three months if the virus spreads since Bulacan is one of its primary sources.

Bartolome said PED was first monitored in Pandi town last year.

The virus was not contained, thus it spread to a number of swine farms in Baliuag, Pulilan, Sta. Maria, Marilao and the City of San Jose del Monte, where piglet mortality was recorded to be unusually high.

Bartolome said the PED virus, like the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus, can be transmitted through direct contact because it can be carried through clothes, vehicles, and feeds.

"We first thought that it was the transmissible porcine gastroenteritis (PGE) virus but recent tests showed that it was the PED virus that has been causing the deaths of piglets," he said.

Bartolome said PGE is common in cold countries but PED thrives in tropical countries like the Philippines.

When asked if the summer heat could exacerbate PED incidence in swine farms, Bartolome said that based on their studies, the virus can strike anytime of the year in tropical countries.

Because of this, he urged owners of hog farms to enforce strict bio-security measures to prevent further contamination.