Author Archives: Paul Sundberg

The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) continues to prioritize high impact, urgent return on investment projects to monitor, predict, prepare, and respond to emerging diseases. Members of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians are invited and encouraged to provide input into the SHIC 2019 Plan of Work, providing direction for upcoming priorities.

Despite banning interprovincial imports of live hogs and hog products earlier this month, African swine fever has been found in Sichuan province in China, one of that nation’s top pork producing regions. In the mid-November Global Disease Monitoring Report from the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), it is reported ASF was identified in Yibin City. In addition to Sichuan province, ASF was also identified for the first time in Jiangxi, Fujian, and Hubei provinces since our last report. And the first case of ASF in a wild boar in China was identified in Jilin province in northeastern area of China which significantly increases concerns about control strategies’ effectiveness. The SHIC Global Swine Disease Report also contains information on a report of ASF feed contamination coming from China this month.

The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC’s) mission to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd requires providing information to producers, practitioners, and related stakeholders. Because your time is spent focused on the health of the pigs under your care, it is easy to miss the latest information on disease activity around the globe, how the industry is preparing in case a foreign animal disease is discovered in the US, as well as the latest in virus-related research and mitigation steps. SHIC, along with other pork industry organizations, works diligently on monitoring, preparedness, and prevention on your behalf. We consistently ask, “What if…” then investigate to find the answers. Do you know the latest on African swine fever (ASF) movement in Asia and Europe? Are you aware foot-and-mouth disease is active in South America? Did you realize there is concern over feed ingredients being a conduit for virus transmission? SHIC and the other pork industry organizations can help inform you!

African swine fever (ASF) positive farms were indentified in southern China last month. Finding infected farms in Yunnan Province suggests a substantial spread of the disease within China, and an increased risk for neighboring countries, particularly Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos, which share a porous border with this province. The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC’s) November Global Disease Monitoring Report includes details on other high priority diseases on SHIC’s Swine Disease Matrix tracked in South America.

The highest number of porcine reproductive and respiratory (PRRS) PCR cases reported in a single month in the US occurred in October. With more than 6000 cases documented, evaluators believe this could signal the beginning of the PRRS season for winter 2018-2019. This, and other near real-time swine disease information, is included in the Swine Health Information Center’s November Domestic Disease Monitoring Report.

Figuring out feed biosecurity is a priority and data from Swine Health Information Center (SHIC)-sponsored research continues to arrive. While feed has been demonstrated as a potential vector for bacteria and viruses, there is no approved method for its evaluation. Validating feed testing methodology is a focus for SHIC. Recently completed work by Dr. Cassandra Jones from Kansas State University validates standardized dust swabbing techniques as means of detection for Seneca Virus A (SVA) at feed mills albeit with less precision than directly analyzing feed samples. Of particular interest, she also simultaneously determined the prevalence and distribution of SVA in United States swine feed mills, as an indicator of risk of domestic and foreign animal disease transmission through feed. The good news: Prevalence for SVA is low in US feed mills. But, where SVA was found on feed mill worker shoes, a farm that mill fed went positive for SVA after detection.

The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) global swine disease monitoring report continues to track diseases on the move around the world, resulting in pressure for entry into the US. The October 16, 2018, report shows African swine fever (ASF) has not yet been discovered in new countries, however, control remains an issue in Romania, Moldova, Belgium, and China. The report notes wild boars in Europe are responsible for ASF transmission, however, the disease has not yet been identified in wild boar in China. Classical swine fever (CSF) remains a concern in Russia, Japan, and Brazil. This report also updates foot and mouth disease (FMD) status in China, Colombia, South Korea, North Korea, and Russia. Developed and funded by SHIC to serve the US pork industry with near real-time information on global swine disease status, this report is updated bi-weekly in response to world wide disease reports and activity.

The pork industry has spent millions to better understand viruses, however, it is often bacteria that kills the pig. In addition, current biosecurity practices are primarily devised to keep viruses out and potentially fail to address the endemic nature of bacteria in a herd. To go along with the Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) Swine Disease Matrix, a prioritized list of endemic and foreign swine viruses, a Bacterial Swine Disease Matrix has been developed. This new tool will guide a focused look at the US pork industry’s highest bacterial risks, while SHIC continues to remain focused on emerging viral pathogens. Both are important tools and part of SHIC’s mission to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd.