Research into blue-ear pig disease
Collaborative research on blue-ear pig disease is set to begin at the Roslin Institute, Edinburgh University and Iowa State University.
The often fatal disease, otherwise known as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), is caused by a fast-mutating virus that affects pigs.
Iowa State University has received a $3 million (£2 million) grant by the US Department of Agriculture to research blue-ear, with the help of scientists from the Roslin Institute and Edinburgh University.
The research will look at whether some pigs have a genetic make-up that makes them less likely to succumb to infections, and whether breeding in any protective gene found will have a domino-effect on pigs' vulnerability to other diseases.
Blue-ear costs pork producers millions of pounds each year through reproductive failure and immune system defects in their livestock, as well as respiratory tract illness in young pigs.
Vaccine production is currently challenged because the virus evolves rapidly, causing continuous new strains.
Jack Dekkers, from Iowa State University, said: "This grant is going to help us continue our work towards finding a way for the pork industry to get a handle on a costly and difficult-to-control disease, and we're excited to move forward with our collaborations."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
