Category Archives: Animal Health

We are currently seeking breeding farms to enroll in a new AASV Foundation-funded research project. Specifically, we are seeking sow farms that have recently had an SVA outbreak that we can monitor through processing fluids.

The National Pork Board today announced the launch of AgView, a technology solution to help the U.S. pork industry respond faster than ever before possible in the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. The web-based tool will allow participating producers to easily share their farm’s FAD status updates and pig movement data with state animal health officials. The opt-in, no-fee technology – funded by the Pork Checkoff – will allow for contact-tracing of infected animals to help rapidly contain or regionalize a potential FAD outbreak.

The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) November Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report is available. This month’s Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report shows a moderate increase in case positivity for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), mostly contributed by a substantial increase in detection from wean-to-market animals. The October detection levels for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were similar from September. At a state level, PRRSV detection was three standard deviations above expected in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. In the podcast, the SDRS hosts talk with Dr. Tara Donovan about her experiences in leveraging veterinary diagnostic and swine production information to support data-driven decisions to improve further the health, welfare, and productivity of swine populations.

A project funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) will develop understanding of the prevalence and phylogenetic relationships of porcine parvovirus (PPV) infections in swine farms.

We are currently seeking breeding farms to enroll in a new AASV Foundation-funded research project. Specifically, we are seeking sow farms that have recently had an SVA outbreak that we can monitor through processing fluids.

A Swine Health Information Center (SHIC)-funded working group report on ultraviolet light, a type of electromagnetic energy invisible to humans, provides guidance on how it can be used on farms to exclude pathogens from being introduced into a herd, a process known as bio-exclusion. When utilized and maintained properly, UVC light germicidal chambers can be an effective component of comprehensive biosecurity programs. However, proper construction and use of the chambers is necessary to obtain the full benefit UVC bio-exclusion. Ensure UVC lights are working properly to provide the intensity of light exposure or dose necessary to inactivate the micro-organism. Place items for maximum exposure in the chamber and time in a way the light can impact all surfaces of the items. In addition, safety should be a top priority when utilizing UVC chambers. The working group involved in this project examined UVC properties, related equipment, practices, and pathogens resulting in best practices for use of ultraviolet light for bio-exclusion on the farm.

The Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) October Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report is available. This month’s Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report shows a substantial increase in case positivity for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and a moderate increase for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) cases in September compared to August in wean-to-market animals. A moderate increase in the detection of PEDV in the adult/sow farm category was also presented. Detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae had a substantial increase in all age categories, as predicted by the forecasted model. At a state level, detection of PRRSV was three standard deviations above expected in Missouri, Nebraska, and Indiana. In the podcast, SDRS hosts talk with Mark Schwartz about a producer experience in using veterinary diagnostic data-driven decisions to improve animal health. They also discuss disease management’s economics and the value of year-round disease monitoring and surveillance to apply practical interventions.

Research funded by the Swine Health Information Center at North Carolina State University shows it is possible to develop accurate forecasts of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) spread within a decision-making timeframe. Results also show predictability of this forecasting depends on the stage of the spread within the region. By forecasting outbreaks before they occur, specific control strategies can be tailored to farms, thereby offering an opportunity to prevent infection.

Zoetis has released an update of the comprehensive manual, “A Contemporary Review of Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae Control Strategies,” a 62-page booklet with 14 articles developed by swine-disease experts specializing in this pathogen. [Source: Zoetis 30 Sep 2020]

Two new PCR tests have been added to the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) Diagnostic Assay Catalog. A highly sensitive and specific RT-PCR for detecting porcine sapovirus (SaV) genotype III for neonatal diarrhea investigation and a single-tube triplex real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay for differential detection of variant strains of pseudorabies virus (PRV), including the Chinese high path strain, gives diagnosticians previously unavailable valuable tools. Each is now available to all veterinary diagnostic labs for use and fits with SHIC’s mission to make sure the US swine industry is prepared for emerging diseases.