Aujeszky’s Disease

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Aujeszky’s Disease (AD) or Pseudorabies is a notifiable infectious disease of pigs. It is caused by a herpes virus and other species are also susceptible, for example, cattle, sheep, dogs and cats. It is not transmissible to humans.

If notifiable disease is suspected, contact the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Regional Office. Failure to do so is an offence

Covid-19

Please note, due to Covid-19, sampling for the Aujeszkys Disease Surveillance scheme outlined below was paused from April but sampling has now resumed. Private Veterinary Practitioners can begin AD blood sampling on-farm again while complying with the current Public Health Agency advice and the RCVS COVID-19 work place guidelines.

Surveillance scheme for Aujeszky’s disease

From 1st March 2013 a new surveillance scheme was phased in to ensure Northern Ireland maintains its status as an Aujeszky’s Disease free zone.
To maintain regional freedom from disease an annual surveillance of the national pig herd will be undertaken, which will require low level sampling of breeding herds up to a maximum of 14 pigs per separate epidemiological unit. This new sampling regime will commence on 1 March 2013. Those herd keepers who have completed a Monitoring Test in the past will have been notified when their next test is due.

Sampling of breeding pigs should be carried out by your nominated Private Veterinary Practitioner (PVP) on farm as before. Herd keepers of breeding units do not need to arrange additional sampling for their finishing pigs.

DAERA may, on the basis of a veterinary risk assessment, require additional samples to be taken e.g. samples from finished pigs at the point of slaughter. The relevant abattoirs will be notified in advance and these samples collected by their staff.

Samples must be tested at AFBI, Veterinary Sciences Division, Stoney Road, Belfast.

For further information contact:.0300 200 7840 – Epizootics Branch

Regional freedom

Following a presentation to SCoFCAH (Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health) on 11th September 2012 , Member States voted unanimously on 2nd October to recognise Northern Ireland (NI) as a region free of Aujeszky’s Disease (AD). This follows a detailed submission to the European Commission in March 2012. The decision was formalised on 13 Nov 2012 (Decision 2012/701/EU) when Ireland and Bolzano Province in Italy were also granted regional freedom at the same time. This will allow NI to trade on an equal basis with Great Britain and opens up new market opportunities further afield. All breeding and production pigs imported from regions which are not AD free will be required to meet additional health and certification requirements.

This is a very significant milestone for animal health in Northern Ireland and the culmination of a lot of work by Industry and various Divisions in DAERA, most notably Veterinary Service Audit and StanDAERAs Branch and Central Policy Group.

Current situation

The European Commission recognised Northern Ireland as free from Aujeszky’s Disease (Annex I status) at a vote on 2nd October 2012. This is the result of the dedication of a joint Industry / Government working group which has worked since 2004 to eradicate this disease from NI.

This decision was published in the European Commission’s Official Journal on 13 November 2012.

Annex I status allows for the export of pigs to GB and other Annex I listed regions without the previously required blood sampling regimes and provides further guarantees for pigs imported into NI.

Annex I status also opens up opportunities for trade in new markets.
Last reviewed 20 December 2012.

Clinical signs of Aujeszky's

Clinical signs and mortality depend on the age and immune status of the pigs affected and the strain on virus involved.

In summary the signs are:

Sows

coughing
fever
nervous signs
reproductive failure
abortions
mummified piglets
stillbirths
birth weak litters

Piglets

nervous signs
incoordination
sneezing
coughing
high mortality
low / poor viable piglets

Weaners & growers

fever
sneezing
coughing
pneumonia
nervous signs including incoordination and fits
some strains of the virus can cause severe respiratory disease and others severe rhinitis
usually low mortality

All other species – cattle, sheep, dogs and cats

nervous signs
death

Pig herd registration

Anyone who keeps pigs in NI is required to register with DAERA, including keepers of a pet pig(s). Applicants must register their holding with DAERA and make an application for a holding code.

A DAERA officer will then be in contact to progress the registration which includes an inspection of the proposed premises. An application form can be obtained by contacting your local DAERA office. Information on Pig Identification and Registration and Movement Recording can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

Animal identification, registration and movement

Pet pigs

Keepers of pet pigs are required to register with DAERA and obtain a holding code. An AD status will be applied to newly registered holdings and appropriate movement licences issued. Movement licences should accompany all pigs moving from registered pet holdings and a copy returned to the local DAERA office. Pet pigs which are being bred for sale will be subject to the same testing regime as commercial pig holdings. Pet pigs being moved will required to be identified as per the regulations.