In the Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC’s) August 2020 Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report, there was a significant increase (signal) in diagnoses of coccidiosis observed from June 27 to July 11, per submissions to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. This unexpected increase in activity prompted development of a webinar for pork producers, practitioners, academicians, and other stakeholders on coccidiosis management, sponsored by SHIC and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
In summarizing the presentations at the conclusion of the webinar, Locke Karriker, DVM, Iowa State University Swine Medicine Education Center director, said coccidiosis management requires remembering it’s a protozoa, not a virus, causing the issues seen in farrowing rooms. Limited prevention tools and treatment options hamper effective management. Morbidity, including lower weights of affected piglets, is the primary issue resulting from coccidiosis. He also noted there are several species of oocysts with each responding differently to treatment and prevention protocols implemented.
Held on Thursday, September 3, 2020, the webinar was conducted by the Iowa State University Swine Medicine Education Center. Presenters were Jeremy Pittman, DVM, Smithfield North Region, Amber Strickler, DVM, Suidae Health & Production, Kent Schwartz, DVM, MS, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, and Robert Friendship, DVM, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College.
http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.