The survival of several viruses in feed and feed ingredients for prolonged periods has been demonstrated. Feed and feed ingredients have also been investigated as sources of pathogen introduction to farms and as a potential source of infection to animals post consumption of contaminated feed. In a study led by Leonardo C. Caserta, Cornell University, and funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), researchers determined the rate of decay of Senecavirus A (SVA) in swine feed ingredients as a function of time and temperature and established half-life estimates for the virus. Study findings demonstrate that feed matrices are able to extend the survival of SVA, protecting the virus from decay. Additionally, it was demonstrated that consumption of contaminated feed can lead to productive SVA infection.
Author Archives: Paul Sundberg
Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Expands the Swine Disease Reporting System Network
Ohio’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) will now be contributing data to the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) to further enhance capabilities as a surveillance tool and for early detection of pathogens of economic consequence to US livestock production. ADDL provides regulatory testing support for disease control programs and full diagnostic laboratory services for veterinarians, livestock producers and agribusinesses within and beyond Ohio. The SDRS provides data used for disease prevention and biosecurity, disease monitoring, disease management, and disease forecasting. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) conceptualized and funded systems for near real-time domestic and global swine disease monitoring to enable better, faster, and more effective response to endemic or foreign infectious diseases. As a result, SHIC helps the industry toward better swine health information to positively impact the long-term sustainability of pork production with the Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report.
F18-associated Gut Edema Disease Successes, Challenges and Analyses Offered During a SHIC-AASV Webinar
Reports of difficult cases of colibacillosis that have been associated with the F-18 fimbrial antigen and leading to gut edema disease have been increasing. With up to 100% morbidity and 20% mortality on some sites, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) responded with a webinar, conducted by the Iowa State University (ISU) Swine Medicine Education Center on September 28, to hear directly from practitioners and a diagnostician involved in these outbreaks. In addition to the clinical signalment of the disease, the webinar included outbreak videos, postmortem findings, diagnostic workups, management successes and challenges, and ISU veterinary diagnostic lab historical data analyses. The webinar was attended by 139 participants from Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States.
September 28 SHIC/AASV Webinar Will Address F18-Associated Gut Edema Management
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) will host a webinar on F18-associated gut edema management on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 1:00 pm CDT. The goal of the webinar is to raise awareness about the recent, unique clinical picture and diagnostic findings associated with the disease.
SHIC Updates APPV Fact Sheet Noting Need for Further Research
The atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) fact sheet has been updated in the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Swine Disease Fact Sheet Library. As part of SHIC’s mission to protect the health of the US swine herd, providing guidance and resources for producers, practitioners, and diagnosticians who are on the front lines of swine health concerns is an ongoing effort. This updated APPV fact sheet captures the latest information available on this swine health concern.
September 28 SHIC/AASV Webinar Will Address F18-Associated Gut Edema Management
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) will host a webinar on F18-associated gut edema management on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 1:00 pm CDT. The goal of the webinar is to raise awareness about the recent, unique clinical picture and diagnostic findings associated with the disease.
International Travelers Reporting Lack of Secondary Screening
Last week, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) offered a reminder for continued reporting of traveler experiences while going through customs entering the US. That morning, a report of international travelers not being diverted to Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists for secondary screening after they indicated on their Customs form that they had had animal contact at their African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) endemic destination was shared. After getting this report, a Customs and Border Protection contact immediately responded saying, “…flights from that area of the world should be a tactical focus and there will be follow up with the agents at that airport.”
Reminder to International Travelers: Report Lack of Secondary Screening If Needed
The COVID-19 pandemic practically halted air travel for a time. Because international air travel is now resuming, a reminder for continued reporting of traveler experiences while going through customs entering the US is timely. Plus, there have been recent anecdotal reports that some veterinarians are not being diverted to customs agriculture specialists for secondary screening after reporting they have been on farms in other countries.
Study Validates US Pork Industry Biosecurity Measures and Pathway Awareness
A new year-long study to identify U.S. pork industry gaps in biosecurity defenses against foreign animal diseases, funded by the Pork Checkoff and the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), found no major areas have been overlooked in efforts to prevent the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) to the United States. With ASF confirmed in the Dominican Republic, the first time it has been in the western hemisphere in 40 years, this work provides reassurance the U.S. pork industry and government agencies have identified the major routes of potential domestic introduction. The study, conducted by EpiX Analytics, LLC, reinforced the importance of continued on-farm biosecurity diligence for known pathways and identified feed and feed ingredient imports risks as a critical opportunity to bolster defenses against ASF.
SHIC Continues on Emerging Disease Mission with Study on Canine Parvovirus 2 Spillover to Swine
A dead pig was submitted to the South Dakota State University Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (SDSU-ADRDL) in October 2020 for diagnostic testing. Moderate enteritis, hepatitis, and visceral edema along with hemolytic E. Coli were discovered as well as porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Later, viral metagenomic sequencing was performed on archived lung tissue for an unrelated research project. Unexpectedly, canine parvovirus 2 (CPV2) was also identified. This finding led SDSU-ADRDL staff to ask for support from the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) to study spillover of the virus from the canine species to swine; the investigation has begun. The specific goal of this project is to investigate the epidemiology of CPV2 in pigs and evaluate its pathogenesis in a colostrum deprived pig model.