The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) and United Soybean Board (USB) have joined with the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) to launch a research project that will evaluate several methods for cleaning and disinfecting feed mills following a potential African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.
Author Archives: Paul Sundberg
SHIC’s 2021 Progress Report Details the Year’s Highlights and Successes
Monitoring and mitigating risk to swine health. Improving swine health information. Conducting swine industry outreach. Surveillance and discovery of emerging swine disease. Preparedness and response. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) presented its 2021 Progress Report to the National Pork Board in January 2022, detailing highlights and successes of work done in 2021.
SHIC/AASV Webinar Feb 1: Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
The Swine Health Information Center and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians will host a free webinar on Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) on February 1.
SHIC Update on ASF Found in Italy; Macedonia and Thailand Report Cases
African swine fever (ASF) was diagnosed in Italy on January 7, 2022.
SHIC-Funded MSHMP Year Seven Goals to Expand Participation and Capacity
The Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project (MSHMP) is entering year seven with plans to build capacity. MSHMP will carry on monitoring swine disease incidence with a national system in place for emerging pathogen detection, a key element of the Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC’s) mission. Pig farm population growth, emerging pathogen tool finetuning, transport data usability and platform building for project information sharing are all key areas of action.
SHIC-Funded Infectious Aerosols Biocontainment Project Provides Initial Results
A project designed to help prevent the spread of infectious bioaerosols capable of causing swine disease outbreaks with significant economic consequences is underway. Funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and being conducted by University of Minnesota staff, work on objective one began in October 2021 and has provided initial insights. This portion of the project is identifying existing and emerging aerosol technologies and procedures, then reviewing them to assess their ability to contain bioaerosols in the face of disease outbreaks in swine.
SHIC Diagnostic Assay Catalog Update Supports Emerging Disease Readiness
Since its inception in 2015, diagnostic preparedness and readiness for possible new or emerging production diseases has been a focus of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The SHIC Diagnostic Assay Catalog, a tool for preparedness and readiness, was updated again in December 2021. Developed for swine diagnosticians, this updated catalog contains information for SHIC-funded diagnostic tests developed to support early identification and epidemiological investigations of possible emerging disease pathogens. SHIC actively updates emerging disease information, including this catalog and swine disease fact sheets, regularly to equip the industry.
SHIC Receives Pork Checkoff Funding for Program Extension to 2027
The National Pork Board announced an additional $15 million investment of Pork Checkoff funds in the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), extending funding for the center through 2027. Launched with Checkoff funds in 2015, SHIC works to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats and analysis of swine health data. “SHIC provides value to the entire pork industry through targeted disease research programs,” says Gene Noem, National Pork Board president and SHIC board member. “Specifically, SHIC is able to conduct and source research for emerging health issues from a network of academia, veterinary service and diagnostic labs and researchers across the globe.”
SHIC/AASV Influenza Webinar Addresses Management Strategies for Seasonal Challenges
A webinar on swine influenza management strategies was offered by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) along with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) and hosted by the Iowa State University Swine Medicine Education Center (ISU SMEC) on December 14, 2021. Dr. Amy Vincent, USDA-ARS National Animal Disease Center, and Dr. Phil Gauger, Iowa State University, experts in swine influenza and related research, along with Dr. Dyneah Classen, Carthage Veterinary Service, a practitioner with hands-on swine influenza experience presented information. A recording of the webinar is available here.
SHIC Funds Porcine Sapelovirus Genetic Characterization and Diagnostic Tool Development
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) maintains a priority on diagnostics of swine diseases as part of its mission to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd. Consequently, SHIC funded a project for genetic characterization and diagnostic tool development for an emerging porcine sapelovirus (PSV). This emerging virus was isolated in a diagnostic specimen from a US swine farm and designated as PSV KS18-01. In work done at Kansas State University and the University of Illinois, a full-length genome sequence was obtained through next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the virus is more closely related to two Japanese strains but is distantly related to two known US strains. PSV specific diagnostic tools were developed, including the monoclonal antibodies again VP1 and VP2, and a VP1-VP2 antigen-based indirect ELISA. Using this assay, the dynamic response of PSV antibody was investigated in a group of post-weaned pigs that were naturally exposed with PSV. The availability of the PSV isolate (KS18-01) and the specific diagnostic reagents and assays provide important tools for PSV control and prevention.