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News from the National Pork Board – March-April 2003

News from the National Pork Board

Pilot project to enhance emerging animal disease
detection and response

In 2002, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) committed funding for an emerging animal disease proposal submitted by the National Pork Board (NPB). The IPPA funding was key to launching this IPPA, NPB, and USDA/APHIS collaborative 12-month effort which began in January 2003.

The primary objective of this study is to create a model for a more formal passive surveillance system designed to rapidly detect, report, and respond to emerging animal diseases (EAD). Emerging animal diseases include foreign animal diseases (FAD), novel pathogens, and re-emergence of known domestic diseases. The porcine circovirus-associated diseases, ie, postweaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), were selected for the study, as they have recently emerged, the clinical description is not clearly defined, and the gross pathology lesions are similar to classical swine fever. Therefore, these diseases provide a unique opportunity to assess the barriers to a passive surveillance system in regards to new emerging pathogens and FAD recognition.

Ten satellite veterinary practices across Iowa and Minnesota, as well as the veterinary diagnostic laboratories at Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota, were recruited to participate. The overall objectives of this study are the following:

Producers, practitioners, and state diagnostic laboratories will be the "first responders" in the detection of an emerging disease in the US swine herd. This study will identify gaps and barriers in the current passive surveillance system so that a more effective passive surveillance system may be implemented. Two diagnostic laboratories were recruited to identify complications associated with diagnostic testing and retrieval of data involving multiple sources. Through the process of case identification, sample submission, and data retrieval from practitioners and diagnostic laboratories, the barriers for a more formal passive surveillance system will become evident. Questions may be directed to Dr Mark Engle at mark.engle@porkboard.org.

Swine health advisory committee development

The Swine Futures Project, a multi-year collaborative effort between the pork industry and USDA-Veterinary Services (VS), outlined a comprehensive plan for APHIS to conduct surveillance for detection of emerging animal issues (EAI). The plan also identified the need for EAI detection and response at the local level. The existence of state-level swine health advisory committees could be instrumental in prevention, detection, and response to emerging diseases at the state level.

In conjunction with VS, the National Pork Board is at work creating a template to move existing pseudorabies virus (PRV) advisory committees and animal health emergency management (AHEM) groups into the role of swine health advisory committees. The first step was an inventory to determine which state-level groups were still in existence. These groups included PRV advisory committees, AHEM committees, and swine interest groups. Veterinary Services and Pork Checkoff developed a survey that VS sent to the seventeen largest swine-producing states in the US. The results are as follows:

The role of VS will be to work with the committees to address industry health concerns. Ideally, the template to develop these groups into swine health advisory committees will include a guide for addressing emerging issues, training of epidemiologists in surveillance methodologies, and establishment of a communication mechanism among state-level committees for regular reporting of activities. The integration of local swine practitioners, producers, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, swine extension, and state and federal animal health officials would provide an effective mechanism for recognizing and responding to an EAI at the local level.

Swine Welfare Assurance Program materials available

Training of Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP) educators is currently underway to begin assessment of welfare on the farm. Watch for future mailings and information on SWAP, including updated schedules of training sessions. The Swine Welfare Assurance Program booklet for producers and the Guide for SWAP Educators are now available from the National Pork Board. Contact Paul Sundberg at 515-223-2600 or go to www.porkboard.org for more information.

National Pork Board sponsors study trip to the United Kingdom

The National Pork Board assembled an investigative team to travel to the United Kingdom (UK). The NPB Swine Health Committee decided that inconsistencies related to porcine circovirus-associated diseases in Europe and North America required further study. Diseases of particular interest were postweaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). The team’s primary objectives were to better understand the scope of PMWS and PDNS in the UK and to determine if differences in these syndromes existed between the UK and the United States. The team consisted of clinicians, epidemiologists, a diagnostician, a nutritionist, and a pork producer. The USDA/APHIS participated by sending Dr Eric Bush, an epidemiologist and swine specialist, from their Center for Animal Health Monitoring in Fort Collins, Colorado. United States pork producers sponsored the remainder of the team through Pork Checkoff funds designated for disease surveillance. The team consisted of the
following members:

From November 11 to 15, 2002, our UK veterinary and animal science colleagues hosted the visit and were extremely accommodating in sharing information, organizing meetings, and arranging farms visits. The team visited multiple farms, worked in diagnostic facilities, and attended various meetings in the UK regarding PMWS and PDNS. In addition, valuable contacts were made to allow continued communications. Reports of the trip have been distributed through various venues.

The team continues its efforts to better understand the relationship between porcine circovirus-associated diseases abroad and in the United States. A Pork Checkoff-initiated pilot project for 2003, using PMWS and PDNS as the target diseases to develop a more formal passive surveillance system for the detection of emerging animal diseases, has gained additional interest. More significantly, through this study trip, pork producers have created an early model for using a multidisciplinary team approach to investigation of health events around the world. Due to explosive international travel and "free trade" agreements, a global approach to animal health assurance has become necessary.