AUJESZKY-DISEASE

Aujeszky’s disease, also known as pseudorabies, is caused by an alphaherpesvirus that infects the central nervous system and other organs, such as the respiratory tract, in a variety of mammals except humans and the tailless apes. It is associated primarily with pigs, the natural host, which remain latently infected following clinical recovery (except piglets under 2 weeks old, which die from encephalitis).

A diagnosis of Aujeszky’s disease is established by detecting the agent (virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction ), as well as by detecting a serological response in the live animal.

Alpha-herpesvirus gene-deleted vaccine: prohibited in Hungary

from 2006 test: gB/gE ELISA neurological signs, respiratory signs, abortion chronic symptomless carriers eradication program treatment of meat

free pig:virus, antigen or DNA is not detectedgB-ELISA –kept in free herd

infected pig: clinical signs, pathological lesions + epidemiological linkvirus, antigen or DNA detectiongB-ELISA +

suspected of being infected pig: suspicious clinical signs, , pathological lesionspresence of virus, antigen or DNA is not excludedcontact with infected animal within 40 days or inseminated with infected semen

free herd:

no infection for 2 yearsepidemiological conditions (e.g. isolation, controlled movements, laboratory examinations, records) (!!!)no vaccination testing of all breeding sows and boars and representative sample of fattening pigsinsemination or natural breeding with negative semen/boars

free herd with vaccination:

no infection for 2 years (until 2006)only gE gene-deleted vaccineepidemiological conditions (e.g. isolation, controlled movements, laboratory examinations, records)testing of all breeding sows and boars and representative sample of fattening pigs with gE-ELISAinsemination or natural breeding with negative semen/boars

infected herd:

confirmed disease or infectionmovement restrictionselimination of the herd until the end of production period (max. 7 months)state compensation

control of free status: regular tests

large scale holding:all boars: every 6 monthssows: 20-50% every 6 monthsrepresentative sample of fattening pigs

small holding:all boars and sows: every year5% of pigs over 4 months

artificial insemination centre: test every 6 months

If positive or inconclusive: free status is suspendedofficial surveillancesuspicious clinical signs, , pathological lesions: sample to the veterinary institute

repeated test in 14 days with gB-ELISA and VN– negative: restoration of free status– positive or inconclusive: killing, sample to the

veterinary institute

+ all breeding animals over 6 months are tested virus, antigen or DNA is not detected from the killed animal

+ all test is negative: restoration of free status virus, antigen or DNA is detected from the killed animal

or there is positive test: elimination of the infected herd

If epidemiological conditions (e.g. isolation, controlled movements, laboratory examinations, records) are not complied with: suspension of free status

+ control serological tests

wild boar: individual negative gB-ELISA test for breeding or further keeping

disease in other species: notification