REPRODUCTIVE

Some pathogens also affect the reproductive performance and productivity of a herd. Pathogens like Parvovirus and PRRSv can cause sows and gilts to abort entire litters or effect the gestational growth and survivability, producing mummies, stillborns, and weakborn piglets. In some cases, females infected with PRRSv have seen up to 40% abortion incidence (Pena et al.) and can transmit the virus to surviving piglets and neighbors for up to 100 days. Due to the economic impacts of these reproductive diseases, vaccination is important to control and help prevent the severe impacts on performance and productivity.