The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) developed two systems for near real-time domestic and global swine disease monitoring. The information made available by these systems will help enable better, faster, and more effective response to endemic or foreign infectious production diseases. The June domestic report includes some noteworthy variation.
Author Archives: Paul Sundberg
SHIC-Funded Research Results in Real-time rRT-PCR Assay for PKV
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) is watching porcine kobuvirus (PKV) as a possible emerging swine virus posing a valid threat to the US pork industry. Originally detected in 2008 in baby pigs in Hungary, PKV has been detected worldwide including in the US in 2013. SHIC-funded research conducted at Iowa State University resulted in the development and validation of a PKV real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) to detect strains of PKV circulating in US swine. The validation process of the PCR resulted in data that suggests PKV is widespread in US swine and additional research is needed to discern if pigs with or without diarrhea are infected with PKV or if different strains of the virus are more likely to cause diarrhea in swine.
SHIC Sponsored Research Develops System to Help Farms Strategically Target Disease Monitoring and Control
The frequency of swine movement in North America makes the industry vulnerable to disease spread. To explore how modifying movement patterns can reduce disease spread, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) recently sponsored research at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. The project looked at the question: Can we reduce the vulnerability of the US swine industry to disease spread by prioritizing surveillance and control on specific farms? The answer is yes.
Up-to-Date SHIC Disease Monitoring Reports Posted
Recently updated domestic and global disease monitoring reports have been posted on the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) website. In the domestic report, it was noted there has been a recent increase in cases testing positive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus by rRT-PCR. The domestic disease monitoring project advisory group reached consensus this is possibly due to increased use of processing fluid to monitor sow herds and increased PRRS virus activity in grow/finish ipigs. The global report included information on the addition of Hungary as the seventh country in the European Union with African Swine Fever (ASF) in April. ASF was found in a wild boar a considerable distance from known infected populations in the central European nation. Local authorities report the disease was probably introduced through infected food waste.
SHIC-Funded Study on PRRS Focuses on Biosecurity Procedures that Make a Difference
In a recently completed study funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD, from Iowa State University (ISU) and his colleagues reported on the number of production events in facilities of all sizes and production styles that had a direct impact on porcine reproductive and respiratory system (PRRS) outbreaks to help prioritize biosecurity practices. The study also compared biosecurity practices of herds with relatively low or high PRRS incidence within and between production systems. Because of the significant sample size, the project provides concrete data to help producers allocating investment in biosecurity, minimizing the risk of virus introduction.
SHIC Rapid Response Program Investigates PEDV and Refines Processes
Reports of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) recently triggered a request for the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Rapid Response Program to help identify pathways of PEDV introduction on affected farms. SHIC initiated a response to test the program as well as provide assistance to affected producers, identifying high risk events resulting in the outbreaks. Following the Rapid Response Team’s investigation into the PEDV affected farms, the National Pork Board (NPB) organized an interactive review of the investigations with the participating veterinarians to examine outbreak reports with outcomes and action items identified.
Update on PRRSV, PEDV, PDCoV, and Central Nervous System Syndrome News – SHIC’s Second Domestic Disease Monitoring Report
The second Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) domestic disease monitoring report includes veterinary diagnostic laboratory (VDL) information about porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and porcine enteric coronavirus (PEDV) testing, documents an increased porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) detection, as well as news on an increase in central nervous system (CNS) tissue submission.
Chinese Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome Coronavirus (SADS-CoV) Spurs SHIC Response
Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome Coronavirus (SADS-CoV), a coronavirus variant emerging in China, has been on SHIC’s radar and, based on information directly from China, new actions are being taken. Affected piglets show morbidity and mortality similar to the effects of PED, which reemerged in China in 2010. A recent letter to Nature reported on research about a 2017 SADS-CoV outbreak associated with neonatal piglet diarrhea and death in four Guangdong Province farms. In October 2017, the SHIC Monitoring and Analysis Working Group reviewed virus and outbreak information and advised continued monitoring of this virus to track spread. Communication with sources in China report the virus is continuing to move between farms and provinces, so SHIC is initiating preparedness research.
SHIC Board of Directors News
Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Board Member Dr. Brett Kaysen of Colorado resigned his position as the representative from National Pork Board last month due to a career change. Gene Noem of Iowa will now fill the National Pork Board representative role on the SHIC Board of Directors.
SHIC’s Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report Addresses FMD
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) posted a new global swine disease monitoring report on April 3, 2018, with information on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) activity in China and Korea presenting the highest concern.