EN
In the summer of 1994, acute porcine reproductive-respiratory syndrome was found in a large breeding farm in which the basic herd was composed of 2330 sows and the annual production of piglets was 46 000. The disease was confirmed by laboratory examinations. Disease symptoms observed in the affected sows were typical: the ears and mammary glands were cyanotic and sows showed a lack of appetite, premature farrowings and increased body temperature. During the first 6 weeks of the disease 1117 females farrowed, among them were 216 (19.33%) sows which farrowed before the 110th day of pregnancy. The majority of piglets born before term died within a few days. During the first ten days of the disease the death rate in piglets rose from 6.00% to 18.14% and it increased in the successive ten days periods. The highest death rate was found in the second third of August. At that time, out of 2067 born piglets 1562 (75.56%) were stillborn or died before weaning. Three months after finding the symptoms of PRRS the number of piglets that died was still higher than 20%. Effects of infection with PRRS virus were also seen in weaned and fattening pigs. Among these animals the number of diseased pigs increased and they showed symptoms in the respiratory system. About 15 weeks after beginning of the disease, gradual recovery to a normal health state was observed in animals. Although specific prophylaxis against respiratory diseases had been immediately introduced, deaths in groups of weaned and fattening pigs were two times higher than those before the appearance of PRRS.