Sask Pork was pleased to present the Award of Distinction for Research Innovation to the U of S VIDO-InterVac Team acknowledging outstanding their achievement and success in the development of a PEDv Vaccine. A second award for Leadership in Research Innovation was given to Dr. Volker Gerdts, Associate Director of Research at VIDO, recognizing his extensive role in the development of the vaccine.

The awards were presented at Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium on November 15th by Casey Smit, Vice President of Swine Production for Olymel Western Canada. Representing VIDO-InterVac at the ceremony were program managers Dr. Brenda Allan, Dr. Don Wilson, Dr. Stew Walker and Dr. Volker Gerdts.

In January 2015, Dr. Gerdts approached Sask Pork about a PED vaccine development project underway at VIDO’s new Level 3 containment facility, which had begun just months after the initial infection in the U.S. and months before the infection surfaced in Canada. The goal was to develop a PED vaccine that would provide protection for new born piglets.

Initial results from VIDO trials at that time were very promising and over the course of the next few months, VIDO re-tested the vaccine in additional live pig trials their facility. Then last winter field trials were started at three Saskatchewan farms which were made possible by the support of the Government of Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, Sask Pork and the Western Canadian Swine Health Alliance.

In August of this year, the U of S announced that VIDO-InterVac had in fact produced a successful vaccine which has led to further development with Huvepharma who are partnering with VIDO Inter-Vac towards the commercialization of the vaccine for the North American swine industry in the very near future.

The team at VIDO invested extensive time and resources in the development of this vaccine, and in an unprecedented move, VIDO offered to assist Saskatchewan pork producers, by sharing the vaccine they developed, should a PED infection occur on farms in our province.

Casey Smit stated “The importance of this vaccine to the entire North American swine industry cannot be overstated. While it may not lead to the complete eradication of PED, it will certainly reduce the risk and severity of infections in Canadian herds and this is very important to Saskatchewan and Western Canada as our exposure to PED has been very limited to date.”

“I’m happy to be able to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the VIDO-InterVac Research Team and Dr. Gerdts in developing this vaccine and the unprecedented cooperation shown between the research community and pork producers.” •

— Photo and submission compliments SASK Pork