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Four scientists receive European PRRS Award 2022
“The European PRRS Research Award brings science and veterinary practice together" - Markus Hammer, Boehringer Ingelheim.
Boehringer Ingelheim supports research with a total of 75,000 EUR.

Scientists from across four European countries have been honoured by Boehringer Ingelheim for their practical work to improve pig health.

Diedrich Hendrickx of the Netherlands and Merel Postma from Belgium join Emil Lagumdzic from Austria and Arnaud Lebret of France in receiving the European PRRS Award 2022. 

Now in its ninth year, the award encourages research into novel methods of tackling Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and developing new practical strategies for its control.

Markus Hammer, global head of swine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “The European PRRS Research Award brings science and veterinary practice together and promotes work that makes a difference for swine practitioners and their animals. We are pleased that the PRRS Award is so well received, and we are glad to support the promotion of excellent scientific work that has high value for practice."

PRRS affects growing piglets and adult pigs and leads to reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness. The virus also imposes a significant financial burden on swine producers across the globe: In the European Union alone, the total cost to the industry is estimated at 1.5 billion EUR annually. 

To encourage new PRRS control methods, Boehringer Ingelheim awards three outstanding research proposals 75,000 EUR in total every year.

This year, the independent jury awarded Diedrich Hendrickx and Merel Postma for developing an ADKAR change management model to wean piglets free of PRRS wild-type virus and understand the farmer's objection towards a PRRS-free future. The aim of this project is to coach the farm on how to set up and follow an individual PRRS control plan.

Jury members awarded Emil Lagumdzic for the gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD8+ T cells from gilts after PRRSV infection. Scientists hope that an improved understanding of the role of immune responses can enable the targeted development of efficacious vaccines.

Finally, Arnaud Lebret received the award for a descriptive study on PRRSV detection by qPCR in blood samples collected in positive stable herds following mass vaccination of sows with an MLV vaccine. 

Boehringer Ingelheim states: 'Objectifying the frequency of detection of vaccine strains would help practitioners in their choice when implementing vaccinal strategies against PRRSV.'

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.