Boehringer Ingelheim 2008 PCVAD Research Award

2008-09-29

 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., (BIVI) announces the recipients of its annual research award program directed at porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD). The $75,000 PCVAD Research Awards will fund three research studies designed to improve the industry’s understanding and management of this devastating disease.

The following 2008 award recipients and their research proposals were recognized Sept. 20 at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota:

• Brad Leuwerke, DVM, Swine Veterinary Center; a study to determine the influence that maternal porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antibodies have on the interference of circovirus vaccination efficacy in young pigs.
• Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, PhD, assistant professor, Iowa State University; a study to determine the prevalence of PCV2 viremia and persistent infection in conventional piglets at birth.
• Tanja Opriessnig, DVM, PhD, assistant professor, Iowa State University; a study to evaluate the influence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus viremia on circovirus vaccine efficacy in conventional growing pigs.

Edgar Diaz, DVM, technical manager for PCVAD at BIVI, says the studies funded through this program provide results that will add significantly to the industry’s scientific knowledge base for PCVAD. “Research is key in helping us continually develop effective on-farm solutions to help manage this devastating disease,” Diaz explains. “By supporting academia, researchers, veterinarians and producers in this endeavor, we can effectively address these challenges.”

Several PCVAD research proposals were submitted by graduate students, researchers and practicing veterinarians from North America. The proposals were reviewed by an independent review board comprised of Drs. Tom Gillespie, Rensselaer Swine Services; Kent Schwartz, Iowa State University; Laura Batista, Centre de développement du porc du Québec inc.; and Jerry Torrison, University of Minnesota. The proposals were selected based on established criteria: potential for economic impact to the swine industry; originality and scientific quality; and probability of success in completing the one-year study.

Funding of independent research is just one part of BIVI’s longstanding commitment to help the swine industry find better ways to manage and someday eradicate swine diseases such as PCVAD and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS).