AUJESZKY'S DISEASE IN INDUSTRIAL SWINE HERDS - REVIEW

SUMMARY: Aujeszky's disease is considered one of the greatest economic impact of diseases in the swine industry worldwide. The damage has been related to the direct consequences of outbreaks, use of vaccination and reduction in livestock productivity. The etiologic agent of this disease is the pig herpesvirus type 1. Among the biological characteristics of the virus, the most epidemiological importance is the ability to establish latent infections, surviving in the nervous system of the host after acute infection. This property marks the great challenge of eradication. The acquisition of new animals, the density of swine farms and epidemiological relationship between the properties are identified as the main factors for the spread of the virus. In the swine industry these characteristics are often involved aggravating the spread. The development and improvement of diagnostic measures for monitoring and control methods are increasingly needed, making a complete understanding of the fundamental characteristics of the disease. However, this paper aims to review comprehensively the particularities of Aujeszky's disease.