The U.S. pork industry is importing feed ingredients from countries with endemic swine diseases not presently in the United States. Results of research funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) in 2017 suggest a subset of contaminated feed ingredients could serve as vehicles for foreign animal disease, other transboundary disease introduction to the US, and possibly circulation of viruses within the US. For example, the results of this research may provide new insights and areas for helping to understand regional spread of PRRSV and PEDV. Further investigation of potential threats posed by virus-contaminated feed ingredients and how to mitigate it will be a focus for SHIC in 2018.
Author Archives: Paul Sundberg
SHIC Domestic Disease Monitoring Report Shows PRRS, PED, PDCoV Status
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has posted the first monthly domestic swine disease monitoring report. The report is the result of the veterinary diagnostic lab (VDL) data standardization project SHIC supported. Beginning with monitoring of PEDv, PDCoV, and PRRS, the model describes dynamics of disease detection by pathogen over time, specimen, age group, and geographical space. Additional diseases will be included as the program is refined.
Announcement: SHIC Research Delivers Influenza Test Differentiating Types
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) reports positive results from research funded on influenza detection and differentiation diagnostic development; better understanding of influenza control demands sufficient diagnostic capabilities. This has yielded creation of the first 5-Plex RT Influenza PCR for animals that detects and differentiates between Influenza A, B, C and D with one test.
SHIC Funded Diagnostic Research Finds Saliva and Nasal Swabs vs. Serum are Good for Testing for PPIV1
Porcine Parainfluenza Virus 1 (PPIV1) is widespread in US swine herds. Now better diagnostic capability is available to help understand its potential role in disease. Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) funded research has successfully developed and validated a TaqMan quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) test for PPIV1 detection in oral fluid saliva and nasal swabs. No PPIV1 RNA was found in serum samples even from pigs that showed a high level of viral RNA in their nasal swabs. This is one of many new diagnostic tests developed over the past few years under SHIC’s research umbrella to increase US readiness for emerging diseases.
SHIC Releases 2018 Plan of Work to Help Safeguard Swine Health
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Plan of Work for 2018, with projects designed to quickly deliver results to safeguard the health of the US swine herd, was approved by the organization’s Board of Directors during their January 26 meeting. Just a few Plan of Work highlights include a focused effort to improve transportation biosecurity, the next steps for investigating feed as a possible vehicle for pathogen transport into the country and between farms, improving communication about international and domestic swine diseases, and continued testing of the ability to respond to emerging disease through the Rapid Response Corp.
SHIC-funded Research Will Help Investigate PCV3 through Improved Diagnostics
PCV3 is on the radar of Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) as a potential emerging disease, with recognition that more work needs to be done to understand its role in disease syndromes. Newly released research sponsored by SHIC gives the industry the ability to detect and differentiate the majority of field strains of PCV3 and PCV2. With these diagnostic capabilities now available, SHIC encourages vigilance and diagnostics in cases of unresolved Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS) and other clinical signs to help better understand the incidence of PCV3.
SHIC Reports on 2017 Accomplishments
The Swine Health Information Center presented its 2017 Annual Report and the Center’s accomplishments on behalf of US pork producers at the National Pork Board meeting on January 9, 2018. The report was accepted and the Center’s efforts to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd by providing return on the investment made in the Center validated. Operating with transparency, and accountable to the producers who fund SHIC’s activities, the 2017 Annual Report contains detailed information on all the organization’s activities. It is available for review and comment at http://www.swinehealth.org.
SHIC-Funded Research Discovers Novel Way to Monitor and Diagnose Japanese Encephalitis Virus
When Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) infects a naïve herd, the mortality rate of infected piglets is close to 100 percent; and 50 to 70 percent of sows experience reproductive failure. While JEV is endemic in Asia and the Pacific, many countries like the United States don’t have and don’t want this disease. New research has uncovered the ability of the virus to be spread between pigs by direct contact so the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has sponsored a novel and convenient means to monitor for and detect JEV in saliva via rope testing.
SHIC Tackles Biosecurity Issues from Cull Sow Markets and Transport
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) funded a study with the goal of understanding cull sow markets and providing insight for further work on related transport/sow market biosecurity issues. Delivered in 2017, this successful study results in data for further deliverables to safeguard the health of the US swine herd.
SHIC Delivers to US Pork Producers During 2017
With more deliverables for the US swine industry than there were gifts beneath the tree, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) focused on urgent return-on-investment projects to monitor, predict, prepare, and respond to emerging diseases in 2017. Developed around SHIC’s key priorities, several new projects included in the organization’s 2017 Plan of Work were completed for the benefit of the health of the US swine herd including a communications action plan, near real-time global and domestic disease monitoring systems, development of effective, efficient surveillance systems, Rapid Response Program, Corps, and Training, and much more.