The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments.
The Swine Health Information Center, in collaboration with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, hosted a webinar on H5N1 influenza risk to US swine on November 20, 2024. The goal of the webinar was to provide current information on H5N1 in livestock including updates on the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle, the first detection of H5N1 in a pig on a small backyard farm in Oregon, research on H5N1 in swine, and a literature review covering gaps in knowledge for H5N1. Additionally, an update on the use of aspirin in livestock was presented. The webinar can be accessed here.
Fred Gingrich, II, DVM, executive director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, shared information on the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle first identified in a Texas dairy herd exhibiting unusual clinical signs of illness. On March 25, 2024, USDA officially announced the first isolation of influenza A H5N1 in milk from an affected cow. The initial introduction of H5N1 into dairy cattle was likely from wild birds, potentially as early as December 2023. But since that time, the source of virus transmission among dairy herds is thought to be from infected cattle.
Dr. Gingrich stated that clinical signs of virus infection and impact on lactating dairy cows are different from infection in poultry and wild birds. In dairy cattle, there is low morbidity of 20% – 30% with a low mortality of 2% – 5% reported. He noted that there is no need for depopulation as cattle recover from the infection. H5N1 affects mostly lactating dairy cows, and clinical signs include decreased appetite and rumination, tacky manure, decreased milk production, and milk turning abnormally thick and yellow. Herd-level production losses can average 20% and the long-term impact on herds is yet unknown.
Recent research into the dairy outbreak has shown that bulk milk tank samples can have PCR positive test results 10 to 14 days before peak clinical signs are observed. This offers an opportunity for increased surveillance for early detection and can facilitate implementation of biosecurity measures for preventing transmission. Biosecurity remains a challenge due to the segmented dairy industry structure and specialized production sectors. Transportation of adult and young stock cattle occurs daily, sometimes over long distances. Continued development of biosecurity to decrease disease transmission is critically important. Moving forward, Dr. Gingrich said safe movement will be more manageable than stopping movement in the event of an outbreak. Other needed methods for disease control include the development of safe and effective vaccines.
Dr. Gingrich also noted that the dairy industry has worked closely with FDA and USDA to ensure food safety for consumption of products. FDA has performed testing on bulk tank samples of raw milk to confirm that pasteurized milk is safe to consume while unpasteurized milk carries a significant risk for pathogens. In addition, USDA has confirmed the safety of eating properly handled and cooked beef. Dr. Gingrich noted that the USDA plan for national bulk tank surveillance is critically important, and that this surveillance effort continues to inform efforts for effective disease prevention and control in the US dairy industry.
Ryan Scholz, DVM, MPH, State Veterinarian of Oregon, provided an overview of the first detection of H5N1 in a pig co-housed with poultry on a small backyard farm. The call to the Oregon Department of Agriculture on October 22, 2024, was initiated due to sick and dying birds observed on the farm. Birds on the farm included ducks, geese, peafowl, and chickens. There were three kunekune pigs housed with sheep and goats and two teacup pigs housed with chickens. A USDA technician was sent to the farm to sample affected birds. The kunekune pigs were sampled because they had direct contact with dead waterfowl on the farm but none of the pigs showed any clinical signs of illness. Samples were submitted to the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for testing. After the initial detection of H5N1 in birds and one pig, all poultry were depopulated, and the decision was made to euthanize all of the pigs for a comprehensive diagnostic case evaluation. Samples from one kunekune pig were PCR positive including nasal and tracheal swabs, brain tissue, heart, and lymph nodes, and one teacup mini pig had PCR positive samples of tracheal tissue and tracheal swab. Virus sequencing from poultry sampled on the farm confirmed detection of the D1.2 genotype of H5N1.
Dr. Scholz noted that transitional and backyard pigs are significantly different from commercial swine production for pork. The handling of backyard animals and sampling techniques present unique challenges and alternative methods to address these challenges should be considered. Lifestyle and backyard farms tend to have limited to no biosecurity due to outdoor exposure and direct contact with multiple species. He noted that the knowledge and implementation of biosecurity for small holdings and lifestyle farms can be minimal and resources to address the gap in knowledge are needed. He also said partnership with public health officials is important, especially when dealing with potential zoonotic diseases, as part of emergency response planning.
Bailey Arruda, DVM, PhD, Research Veterinary Medical Officer, USDA-ARS, National Animal Disease Center, described the new paradigm of the now panzootic H5N1 virus and updated results on H5N1 research in swine. She noted that the number of mammalian species infected with the H5N1 virus since 2021 has significantly increased. The virus naturally changes over time, exhibiting reassortment that results in co-circulating genotypes and potentially different phenotypes. Dr. Arruda noted that in the past, H5N1 viruses contained a Eurasian N1 but some more recent viruses contain a North American N1.
Dr. Arruda reviewed the protocol for H5N1 virus challenge studies at the NADC BSL-3 facilities with weaned pigs negative for influenza A virus, PRRSV and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Multiple strains of H5N1 have been used in challenge studies with pigs, but until recently, the viruses were not sourced from the current H5N1 dairy isolates. The goals of the challenge studies are to characterize clinical signs and pathogenesis of each isolate and to generate known positive samples for diagnostic test development and evaluation.
In summarizing the H5N1 dairy isolate studies, Dr. Arruda noted that three H5N1 strains were utilized from contemporary dairy herd outbreaks, including two cattle origin isolates (cattle/TX/008 and cattle/TX/002) and one from a human case associated with an infected dairy herd (TX/37). In general, pigs exhibited minimal to mild respiratory signs with some showing short-term fever. No pigs exhibited neurologic signs of disease. At necropsy, mild tissue lesions were noted. Virus was found in brain samples for TX/37 and cattle/TX/002 and virus was identified in heart and spleen for all three virus strains. All pigs were positive by nasal swabs across the three viruses studied. Results from additional sample types are pending.
Dr. Arruda concluded by saying pigs are at risk to circulating strains of H5N1, noting reassortment with endemic swine IAV strains is of concern. Clinical signs in the experimentally infected pigs were mild, and there is the potential to overlook infection. For sampling of ill pigs, nasal swabs were shown to be able to detect H5N1. To reduce the risk of introduction into a swine herd, producers should consider biosecurity steps including avoiding the use of untreated surface water, ensuring bird-proofing, restricting scavenger mammals in or around barns, not feeding pigs unpasteurized milk products, and evaluating biosecurity risks posed by area dairy or poultry farms, including shared resources or personnel.
Montse Torremorell, DVM, PhD, Professor, University of Minnesota, shared the results of a recently completed SHIC-funded literature review on H5N1 risks to swine. She stated that the H5N1 2.3.4.4b genotype has demonstrated the ability to spread globally across many different species with clinical presentations ranging from high mortality to subclinical infection. H5N1 genotype 2.3.4.4b can infect pigs and there are concerns that infection with H5N1 will not exhibit similar clinical signs to endemic strains currently seen in commercial pigs.
Dr. Torremorell reviewed that H5N1 viruses exhibit variable clinical presentations, lesions, and transmission risks in pigs, depending on the genotype and animal species origin of the isolate. Knowledge gaps exist in pathogenesis and transmission, accurate methods and appropriate samples for detection, routes of infection, identification of the potential source of introduction, and understanding the virus’s complex epidemiological picture.
Dr. Torremorell noted outbreak investigations are necessary for gaining needed information for prevention and control of the virus. Investigations can help identify epidemiological links between poultry, swine, and cattle while also elucidating potential pathways of infection and assessing risk of transmission. Understanding the role of nonclinical pigs, identifying the duration of virus infection and shedding on a population level, and quantifying the risk of interactions between other species and shared resources will be important to implement effective intervention strategies.
Defining the applicability of commonly collected swine samples, such as udder wipes, processing fluids, oral fluids and water samples, for accurate and rapid detection of H5N1 is needed. Accurate surveillance can address knowledge gaps around the potential for H5N1 2.3.4.4b reassortment with other endemic swine influenza strains and the impact of those changes for risks to animal and public health. Further knowledge gaps include the impact of partial immunity from endemic viruses, the role of vaccination for protection against H5N1, risk from mammalian adaptation viruses, current and common biosecurity practice effectiveness, aerosol transmission, and effective management practices for virus control.
The final presentation was provided by Locke Karriker, DVM, MS, DACVPM, reviewing the regulatory situation regarding aspirin use in swine. An AASV summary of his presentation can be found here.
The Swine Health Information Center and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research have recently funded six new projects to enhance US prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response capabilities for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). As a transboundary disease risk for US introduction, JEV is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitos and can cause reproductive failure, abortions, and stillbirths or weak piglets in swine breeding herds. Recent expansion of JEV into new geographic regions of Australia warrants close investigation to prevent a potential JEV incursion into the US. In the fall of 2024, a total of $1.3M was awarded through the SHIC/FFAR JEV Research Program across six projects now underway.
Announced in February 2024, the SHIC/FFAR JEV Research Program sought to invest in critical research to prevent JEV incursion, ensure rapid detection of JEV if introduced, inform stakeholder response, mitigate production losses on sow farms, identify effective control measures, and develop clear messaging to consumers on the safety of pork. With a goal to address the emerging threat that JEV poses to US swine health, SHIC and FFAR invited proposal submissions from qualified researchers for funding consideration based on value to US pork producers.
A total of 26 proposals from 23 different institutions were received by the submission deadline in April 2024. Six proposals were selected for funding after a highly competitive review process conducted by swine industry stakeholders and subject matter experts. Newly funded projects address the SHIC/FFAR JEV Research Program priorities, including transmission and epidemiology, competent vectors, the role of wildlife, diagnostics, challenge models, and vaccine development.
SHIC/FFAR JEV Research Program projects funded and initiated in response to the RFP include:
Transmission and epidemiology
Epidemiology of JEV in Australian intensive piggeries
Principal Investigator: Brendan Cowled, Ausvet Pty Ltd
Objectives: 1) Understand the transmission and epidemiology of JEV within farms through a literature review and data analysis of affected farm parameters for model development; 2) Understand and validate the farm-level risk factors for JEV in the Australian outbreak through a qualitative study of expert veterinarians.
Competent vectors
Vector competence and JEV pathogenesis and immunity in domestic pigs
Principal Investigator: Angela Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State University
Objectives: 1) Evaluate vector competence of JEV in the primary West Nile virus mosquito vectors in the US; 2) Determine susceptibility and pathogenesis of JEV in domestic swine; 3) Assess protective efficacy of WNV vaccination and JEV vaccination against JEV infection in domestic swine; 4) Evaluate cross-neutralization of porcine antibodies against JEV, WNV, and St. Louis encephalitis virus.
Role of wildlife
Understanding the threat of wild pigs and mosquitoes for JEV transmission to domestic swine farms
Principal Investigator: Daniel Peach, University of Georgia
Objectives: 1) Establish whether wild pigs increase the habitat available to JEV vectors by identifying the mosquito species that breed in wild pig wallows; 2) Determine the extent of access and which mosquito species commonly try to enter sow and wean-to-finish farms; 3) Assess exposure of domestic swine herds to mosquito-borne pathogens associated with wild pigs.
Diagnostics
Building diagnostic capability for Japanese encephalitis virus in the United States
Principal Investigator: Katharine Bossart, Integrated Research Associates, LLC
Objectives: 1) Assess assay performance using recombinant and inactivated viral antigens from multiple JEV genotypes to build serologic diagnostic capabilities; 2) Create a prototype JEV IgM ELISA kit with all reagents and instructions and create a prototype JEV IgM dot enzyme immunoassay; 3) Develop secondary JEV IgM ELISAs and dot enzyme immunoassays using JEV nonstructural proteins.
Challenge models
Development of a pregnant sow model to study the pathogenesis of the emergent Japanese encephalitis virus genotype IV
Principal Investigator: Juergen Richt, Kansas State University
Objectives: 1) Develop robust and harmonized in vivo and in vitro methods for comparative analysis of infected pregnant sows across two study centers; 2) Conduct JEV infection trials at three gestational timepoints at each site; 3) Determine the pathobiological features of in utero infection and compare across the two study centers.
Vaccine development
Translation of the highly safe, pure and potent IMOJEV® live, attenuated chimeric vaccine against JE in humans for prevention of JEV infection and disease in swine
Principal Investigator: Thomas Monath; Substipharm Biologics SA
Objectives: 1) Demonstrate safety and immunogenicity of IMOJEV in swine; 2) Demonstrate efficacy of IMOJEV in protecting pigs from challenge with JEV; 3) Determine minimum effective dose for immunization with IMOJEV; 4) Provide quality assurance and quality control; 5) Develop a product development plan to meet product licensing requirements.
Awarded projects are nine to 24 months in duration; research results will be shared as soon as they become available. In partnership with FFAR, this effort helps SHIC fulfill its mission to generate new intelligence for preventing, preparing for, and responding to emerging swine disease threats. Understanding the potential impacts of JEV on pork production is critical to protecting the health of the US swine herd as well as mitigating the risk of this emerging disease.
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.
Swine Health Information Center
The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Becton at [email protected].
As one of the Swine Health Information Center’s most accessed resources, swine disease fact sheets provide specific information on emerging or re-emerging pathogens. Recently updated, these facts sheets for pseudorabies virus, Japanese encephalitis virus as well as Ebola and Reston virus are now published. Newly included information encompasses disease outbreak demographics and impacts, virology and surveillance strategies, and incorporates peer-reviewed research results addressing multiple components for disease management. A key component of SHIC’s mission is to generate and communicate information for prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts for emerging swine disease threats. Providing current and up-to-date information through the curation of the swine disease fact sheets supports this mission.
The fact sheet informational framework is supported by an in-depth literature review for each respective pathogen. Each section presents pathogen-specific information such as the importance of the pathogen to the industry, public health impacts, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic detection, clinical presentation and treatment for swine, as well as steps for prevention and control. Each fact sheet covers a single disease-causing agent with pathogen-specific information.
Although US commercial swine herds have been officially free of pseudorabies virus since 2004 after a national eradication program, PRV is present in US feral swine that serve as a constant reservoir and source of the virus. The PRV fact sheet provides new details describing the differences between a recently identified variant strain in China and the classic PRV strain, including clinical presentation and risk to swine. Implications for surveillance, control measures, and potential vaccine strategies to mitigate disease are also included.
Japanese encephalitis virus is a mosquito-borne, zoonotic disease that has been recently identified as a potential emerging swine pathogen. In 2022, Australia experienced a novel outbreak of JEV genotype IV in their national swine herd populations that affected new geographic regions. The Australian outbreak spread quickly, causing significant reproductive losses in their breeding herds across areas of the country in which the virus had not previously been identified. The JEV fact sheet highlights key demographic and clinical impacts of the recent Australian outbreak in swine, public health impacts, and identifies gaps in preparedness based on recent research funded by SHIC.
Ebola virus causes a zoonotic disease that has significant human health impacts while the related Reston virus does not cause disease in humans. The new fact sheet includes updates to the terminology and taxonomy used to name the different viruses. While Reston virus has been identified in pigs, clinical signs or death due to natural Ebola virus infection has not been reported in pigs. Updated information is provided on experimental infection, transmission and detection prevalence, as well as immunity and post-exposure data for Ebola and Reston virus. The fact sheet reiterates that Reston virus should be considered a livestock pathogen with zoonotic potential and that transboundary routes of transmission could pose a risk to US swine.
Providing publicly available, science-based fact sheets supports SHIC’s mission of minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through coordinated communication of key resources and improving swine health information. The SHIC swine disease fact sheets can be found here.
Swine Health Information Center Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder, Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton, and Board Chair Mark Schwartz were guests of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) for a recent webinar. “Minimizing the Impact of Emerging Disease Threats in Swine through Research Funding Partnerships” illustrated SHIC and FFAR’s successful collaborations to date and was part of FFAR’s 10th anniversary celebration webinar series. Find the entire webinar here.
FFAR has funded hundreds of research grants and worked with over 500 partners to steward research across the food and agricultural value chain to advance innovation. SHIC has successfully collaborated with FFAR, as well as the National Pork Board, on Japanese encephalitis virus and Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program projects with more on the horizon. On November 6, 2024, SHIC, FFAR and the Pork Checkoff announced their latest partnership to fund the H5N1 Risk to Swine Research Program.
The webinar was hosted by FFAR’s Dr. Jasmine Bruno, scientific program director, who manages their animal systems portfolio within FFAR’s Thriving Productions Systems team. She shared how FFAR’s portfolio maintains a focus on developing animal agriculture partnerships with entities like SHIC to address emerging disease threats in livestock. “FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to connect funders, researchers, and farmers together to pioneer the next frontier of agriculture research, including developing science-based solutions to improve animal health and welfare, advance environmental sustainability, bolster producer profitability and sustain our food supply,” she explained. FFAR continues to build these collaborative partnerships to support research to address these and other challenges facing food and agriculture today. In this process, FFAR looks to complement USDA’s research agenda, identifying where there are critical knowledge and funding gaps.
This effort involves FFAR integrating producers along with other agricultural stakeholders to increase public agriculture research investment. “For every federal dollar that we spend, we have to match that with at least one non-federal dollar, amplifying the public’s investment in agriculture,” Dr. Bruno stated. “We really focus on actionable science.”
Dr. Bruno said SHIC has been an invaluable partner in working with FFAR and informing them when there are critical swine health needs. Collaboration between SHIC, FFAR, and NPB allows for leveraging producer dollars with federal funds to increase overall research funding. Together, the organizations expand the scientific network of researchers working on swine diseases while ensuring research is producer-driven and addresses industry needs. Ultimately, the partnership facilitates the transition of research findings into actionable changes for producers.
Dr. Niederwerder thanked FFAR for their partnership, stating SHIC’s board of directors and working groups, along with US pork producers, are grateful for their collaboration. SHIC’s mission is to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats. Dr. Niederwerder shared how SHIC does this through various mechanisms such as a coordinated communication strategy, preparedness activities, looking at both global and domestic disease monitoring, and analysis of swine health data. This information is then used to target research investments that will provide the greatest value back to pork producers.
One partnership between SHIC and FFAR resulted in a research program focused on Japanese encephalitis virus. “We received an outstanding response from this RFP with 26 research proposals across 23 different institutions,” Dr. Niederwerder commented. “Overall, there was $1.3 million awarded through this program across six projects, and those six projects will address research needs and priorities to prevent and prepare for Japanese encephalitis virus, of which the US is currently negative.”
Another SHIC/FFAR collaboration revolves around wean-to-harvest biosecurity. A gap was identified as a chink in the armor of pork production biosecurity and preparedness that protects swine health. “In the grow-finish population, a lot of what happens there, and then going to the plant on the harvest side, can have a backflow into our sow farms and really cause significant health challenges,” Dr. Niederwerder shared.
Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program research priorities were divided into two categories – onsite or on-farm biosecurity and transport biosecurity. Since 2022, 22 related projects have been funded. Dr. Becton reviewed the projects, results-to-date, and application of results to positively impact biosecurity on and off the farm. Cost-effectiveness of interventions as well as worker motivation, air filtration, mortality management, packing plant biosecurity, and truck wash efficiency were all detailed.
Mark Schwartz, a pork producer and SHIC board chair, highlighted the importance of ensuring research translates into real-world applications for producers. Schwartz emphasized the role of SHIC’s board to maintain focus on producer needs and maximize the value of research investments.
Schwartz observed the pork industry has evolved with a focus on productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. And regardless of production size or type, Schwartz says producers focus on being competitive while producing wholesome, safe, and affordable pork for domestic and global consumers.
To be efficient, minimizing disease outbreaks and preventing introduction of new pathogens into herds is essential. “Because pig production is concentrated and with the evolution of multi-site production, a great number of pigs moved daily and weekly interstate across state lines and across the Midwest and from the high plains to the Midwest, there’s vulnerability,” Schwartz commented.
Recalling the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in 2013 and resulting creation of SHIC in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, producers began investing in emerging swine disease research to achieve the Center’s mission. Schwartz observed SHIC’s ability to take data from these research projects, which are typically conducted with viruses being addressed currently, and to apply learnings to how to deal with the next novel pathogen that’s detected in a swine herd. Consequently, an informed, rapid response is possible. “The value of these partnerships, the value of leveraging our dollars with that of the producers is so important to our industry,” Schwartz concluded.
The Swine Health Information Center has renewed funding for the Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report including the addition of Escherichia coli monitoring, through September 2025. Leading the project are Drs. Giovani Trevisan and Daniel Linhares, Iowa State University. The SDRS program was initially funded by SHIC in 2017 and continues to focus on the analysis and reporting of collated veterinary diagnostic laboratory data to identify emerging endemic disease trends. Reports provide producers with an early warning system to prompt preventative actions such as increasing monitoring and heightening biosecurity measures. As a recently approved addition, Escherichia coli monitoring data is anticipated for inclusion in the report starting in spring 2025.
SDRS aggregates and reports veterinary diagnostic lab data collected across the US representing more than 96% of all swine samples submitted for testing. The SDRS database is the largest publicly available source of swine health information reporting diagnostic data across all phases of swine production from boar studs to grow finish pigs and includes feed and environmental sample submissions. SDRS reporting maintains a database of PCR-based detection results from participating laboratories while providing monthly Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Reports (PDF, audio) to SHIC, published in its monthly enewsletter and posted on its website. SDRS continuously updates its live interactive dashboards found here.
Initial success of the SDRS program led to expansion of both participating laboratories and monitored pathogens over the eight years of funding by SHIC. Currently, data is incorporated from six VDLs, including Iowa State University VDL, University of Minnesota VDL, South Dakota State University Animal Disease and Research Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas StateVDL, Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, and Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Data on nine domestic disease pathogens are being monitored through the monthly report, including PRRSV (PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2), PEDV, PDCoV, TGEV, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, PCV2, PCV3, and IAV.
Since inception, SDRS has provided valuable information to the US swine industry, including seasonal trends of pathogen detection, predominant PRRSV strains by location, real-time information on emerging diseases, identification of re-emerging threats like PEDV, monitoring of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae control efforts, and increased biosecurity awareness in finishing phases. The addition of E. coli PCR genotyping to the Domestic Disease Monitoring Reports will allow for continuous reporting of genotype, virotype, and detection data.
E. coli, a frequently identified bacterium in pigs, can create significant enteric disease challenges in all ages of pigs but most commonly impacts neonatal and weaned pigs. Infection can lead to significant economic losses through increased morbidity, mortality and costs for supportive care and treatment of sick pigs. Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, making treatment difficult. While mitigation and management strategies are available, such as nutritional and vaccine use options, they are not always effective against the disease.
Recently, E. coli infections have been increasing in the US, particularly post-weaning colibacillosis. Current methods for identifying E. coli strains are PCR-based assays, but there is no national-level reporting system for E. coli genotypes and virotypes. Expanding the SHIC Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Reports to include E. coli genotyping and virotyping data will provide valuable insights into the trends and geographic distribution of this pathogen. This information can be used to identify regional trends in virulence genes, inform disease control strategies and reduce the impact of E. coli on US swine.
The SDRS program has become a vital resource for the US swine industry by informing veterinarians and producers about disease detection trends and visualization of changes in swine health on a regional and national basis. Renewal of the program will allow SDRS to continue to enhance disease monitoring, inform pathogen elimination programs, support informed decision-making, and protect the health and productivity of the US swine herd.
This month’s Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report provides information about the highest positivity of PRRSV in the wean-to-market category (50%) since November 2018. This positivity was mainly driven by the PRRSV lineage 1C.5, which had a record number of detections (n=403) within a single month since its emergence. Also, the detection of this lineage broke the 2023 record by 281 cases, with 2,765 detections to date. PEDV positivity increased in November for Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Missouri. Influenza A virus positivity increased in sow farms, reaching 36% of positive submissions overall. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae had a decrease in the wean-to-finish positivity (25%) but remains high compared with previous years. In the confirmed tissue diagnosis, there were alarms for increased PRRSV, influenza A virus, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus suis, and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. The podcast broadcasts a talk with Dr. Daniel Boykin (Smithfield Foods) about endemic pathogen activity in the US and biosecurity tips for PEDV and PRRSV.
Following the report from Guatemala in October, the first case of New World screwworm has now been reported in Chiapas, Mexico. Read about the USDA intensifying control efforts to protect US livestock in the December Global Swine Disease Monitoring Report. African swine fever outbreak information from Europe and Southeast Asia is also included in the report. In Italy, the spread of ASF to a new province in the Piedmont region is detailed while Alessandria province reported its first case in domestic pigs. In the Czech Republic, authorities aim to replicate the successful ASFV eradication achieved in 2017, bolstered by the added support of professional snipers targeting wild boar. In Vietnam, nearly 1,500 ASF outbreaks have been reported across over 48 provinces, leading to the culling of 81,030 pigs—2.6 times more than during the same period in 2023. And in The Philippines, the second phase of the ASF vaccination campaign is set to begin, with 150,000 doses of Vietnam’s AVAC live vaccine, following the successful deployment of 10,000 doses in Batangas last August. Concerns over ASF have resurfaced in Sardinia just a month after its eradication was declared, following the arrival of a shipment of ASF-infected pork from northern Italy in October.
PRRS Cumulative Incidence for MSHMP Beginning July 1, 2009
PEDV Cumulative Incidence for MSHMP Beginning May 1, 2013
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