An updated fact sheet on porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) has been posted on the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) website containing the latest information available. PCV3 is a newly detected pathogen of swine. Although most cases have been detected subclinically, PCV3 is also associated with clinical signs similar to those caused by porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). Individual case definitions have been proposed for PCV3-associated reproductive disease and systemic disease to standardize diagnostic criteria. Work continues at veterinary diagnostic labs (VDLs) where a case definition is being developed. The VDLs are collecting clinical signalment from practitioners who have a PCV3 diagnosis in clients’ herds and are combining it with diagnostic test result qualifications. When this work is finished, communicated in the industry, and generally accepted, SHIC will then move on research priorities and needs. Research will further characterize the clinical and economic outcomes of a PCV3 diagnosis. Case definition completion and beginning of research are expected yet in 2021. Fact sheet updates are 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 paramount.
Author Archives: Paul Sundberg
SHIC Joins Swine Industry Partners to Applaud USDA Action on Dog Importation Restrictions
On August 4, 2021, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a Federal Order establishing additional requirements for dogs imported into the US for resale from countries where African swine fever (ASF) exists. The new requirements took effect immediately. Per the USDA, the number of dogs being imported for resale from ASF-affected countries is growing, and APHIS took this action to continue its efforts to protect the domestic swine industry against this devastating disease.
August Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report Now Available
The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) August Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report is available. This month’s Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report shows a moderate decrease on the overall detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and the PRRSV RFLP 1-4-4 L1C variant strain. As expected by the forecasting models, there was lowering in the detection of enteric coronaviruses and a moderate increase in the detection of M. hyopneumoniae by PCR. There were also signals on the disease diagnosis for Mhp, based on diagnostic codes assigned by veterinary diagnosticians. Signals were also observed E. coli and salmonellas diagnosis. In the podcast, Drs. Trevisan, Magalhaes, and Linhares talk about PRRSV surveillance, management, control, and how to intervene to improve animal health.
New Study Explores the Risk and Mitigation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Feed
Introducing important work examining the role of contaminated feed as a vector for transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), a new study, funded by SHIC, the National Pork Board and ARS/USDA, was published in July 2021.* Specifically, the study performed by researchers from ARS/USDA at Plum Island, evaluated the potential risk of incursion of FMDV into naïve pig herds through contamination of feed. Per the study report, the goal of the project was the assessment of the infectiousness (viability) of FMDV in commercial whole pig feed and pig feed ingredients. Additionally, the researchers, led by Drs. Stenfeldt and Arzt, determined the dose required to infect pigs through natural feeding behavior. Finally, the project looked at the ability of select commercially available feed additives to reduce infectivity of contaminated feed. “While comparable research investigating the potential biosecurity risks of imported feed exists for other viral pig pathogens (Dee et al., 2018; Niederwerder et al., 2020; Niederwerder et al., 2019), this is the first comprehensive evaluation of the risk of FMDV infection of pigs through ingestion of contaminated feed under controlled experimental conditions,” wrote the authors.
SHIC Grant-Funded ASF Research Project in Vietnam Examines ELISAs
Research being conducted in Vietnam on ELISAs for African swine fever (ASF), made possible by a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grant obtained by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) with support from the National Pork Producers Council, continues with a preliminary report issued in July 2021. This work is being done by Biostone Animal Health, with collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA’s) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD). Goals of the study are to generate a panel of 2000 pig serum samples with known ASF infection status, determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the ELISAs in the study using the panel, and finally to perform an inter-laboratory evaluation of the assays in the USA and Canada.
August Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report Now Available
The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) August Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report is available. This month, read details on African swine fever (ASF) being found in the western hemisphere, in the Dominican Republic, for the first time in 40 years. ASF also continues to spread in German pig farms where three outbreaks were detected in Brandenburg state. Also, in Poland, authorities report an increase of 520% in ASF outbreaks in domestic pig herds the first five months of 2021.
SHIC Adds to Preparedness with Updated PTV and JEV Fact Sheets
Two more fact sheets have 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 paramount. Updated fact sheets on porcine teschovirus (PTV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) were recently posted.
Swine Disease Global Surveillance Report: African Swine Fever Diagnosed on a New Continent
On July 28, 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) after learning the results of tests on 389 samples collected from pigs raised on farms and in backyards sent to the USDA – Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Plum Island) through an existing cooperative surveillance program.
SHIC-AASV Webinar Delves into PRRS 1-4-4 1C Incidence and Possible Pathways of Entry
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) 1-4-4 1C appeared in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in late 2020. Dramatic clinical signs on farms raised concern and the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), with co-sponsor American Association of Swine Veterinarians, offered a webinar on PRRSV 1-4-4 1C on February 4, 2021. A second wave of outbreaks in April and May 2021 in a wider geography with positive cases in upper Midwest states keeps this virus at the forefront. A second webinar, PRRS 1-4-4 Incidence and Response, took place July 20, 2021, featuring discussion on SHIC Rapid Response Teams’ investigations into possible pathways of entry of the virus plus updates on incidence and geographic distribution.
SHIC HP-PRRSV and Ebola Virus Fact Sheets Updated for US Swine Industry Benefit
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Swine Disease Fact Sheet Library continues to be updated. This process, part of SHIC’s mission to protect the health of the US swine herd, provides guidance and resources for producers, practitioners, and diagnosticians who are on the front lines of swine health concerns. Most recently, updated fact sheets on high path porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (HP-PRRSV) and Ebola virus were posted. While each fact sheet was thoroughly updated, taxonomy and epidemiology sections for both viruses saw the greatest change.