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PEDv-killing disinfectants needed

March 30, 2016, Winnipeg, Man – An assistant professor with the University of Manitoba says more effective disinfectants, capable of killing the virus responsible for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea within stored manure, need to be developed.

A research study conducted by the University of Manitoba and the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute has shown the virus responsible for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea can survive for long periods of time in earthen manure storages but the infectivity of the virus will vary according depth in the lagoon and environmental conditions.

Scientists analyzed manure samples collected at various depths of the earthen manure storage of two PED infected farms.

Dr. Ehsan Khafipour, an assistant professor with the University of Manitoba, says even nine months after an initial outbreak the virus remains present in the infected manure.

“If the virus is present in the manure and our data shows the number of virus is even increasing without any new entrants of infected manure into this EMS so the questions is, even if the virus is finding a new host and is able to replicate but the infectivity is not as much, how do we have to handle this manure,” says Dr. Khafipour.

“What should be our approach in handling the manure? As part of the research, we looked at some of the chlorination methodology for example to see how we can disinfect the virus and our results weren’t that promising.”

“Hopefully the companies that are working on new disinfectants that might be more effective against PEDv will take up the research and do more research on it,” he adds.

Dr. Khafipour says the study shows producers need to remain cautious when dealing with stored manure following a PED outbreak.