Australian researchers are taking part in an international effort to develop a vaccine against an emerging disease affecting pigs around the world.
Researchers from the QLD Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation have been working on the development of a vaccine for Glässer’s disease – an infection in pigs caused by the bacterium Haemophilus (H.) parasuis.
The disease which can cause inflammation of the linings of pigs’ lungs, hearts and abdominal organs, can not be passed onto humans.
Research scientist, Conny Turni at Agri-Science Queensland, a division of the Department, said Australia was working with the Animal Technology Institute of Taiwan (ATIT) to develop the vaccines.
"We have been unable to find pig herds in Australia free of this bacterium, but our collaborators in Taiwan have a special research pig herd that is H. parasuis-free,” Ms Turni said.
"We need to make sure pigs involved in our research are truly free of this bacterium, so they are fully susceptible to Glässer’s disease. Therefore our link with the ATIT is crucial.
"Vaccinated and unvaccinated pigs are exposed to the bacterium and if the vaccine is effective the unvaccinated pigs should fall ill while the others don’t.”
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the disease was causing “major losses” to the pork industry each year.
"For pig producers it means expensive treatment costs, losses due to death, and losses due to retarded growth in affected pigs,” he said.
The Minister said pigs contracted the disease from other pigs via nose-to-nose contact, and it was a problem mainly in weaned pigs, not in grower pigs.
"Mortality rates as high as 5.4 per cent for post-weaning and as high as 11 per cent for pre-weaning have been reported on some Australian farms," he said.
"To counter these losses, two vaccines are being developed – one is a weakened vaccine, and the other is a new farm-specific vaccine, which is given to piglets at an early age.
The Queensland pork industry is expected to contribute $240 million to the State’s economy this financial year, according to Mr Mulherin.
Researchers are currently testing vaccines for safety and effectiveness.
Trials to test the vaccine are expected to start early next year.