Pseudorabies (Aujeszky’s Disease) and Its Eradication: A Review of the U.S. Experience

This report has been written to serve as a history of the U.S. Aujeszky’s Disease (Pseudorabies) Eradication Program and as a guide when future disease eradication programs are considered. The report provides an overview of the program and its history and is generally nontechnical, with specific sections written by subject matter experts. The information was compiled during 2007, three years after the last four States qualified for Stage V (Free) Status. This eradication effort was formally initiated in 1989. The contents of this report include a variety of information that represents the viewpoints of individuals participating in the eradication effort. To introduce the challenge of pseudorabies (PRV), the report covers characteristics of the virus and the history of the disease in the United States, followed by the emergence of virulent strains in the 1970s that coincided with management changes in the swine industry. The report also discusses early attempts at PRV control, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, and then reviews various pilot projects, individual State experiences, and national debate on the pros and cons of eradication versus control. In addition, the report offers details on the evolution and acceptance of a national eradication program, including debate among industry and State/Federal officials, funding, testing protocols, cleanup plans, and the development of gene-deleted vaccines and their complementary tests. The ongoing threat of reintroduction from feral swine and emergency response plans are also included. Lastly, the technical coordinators have included a chapter on lessons learned from our various viewpoints on the eradication effort.