Skip to content
Swine Vet Center

Swine Vet Center

Providing swine producers with the knowledge and resources to help realize their goals

  • About Us
  • Our Services
  • Meet the Team
  • SVC News
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • More

Month: August 2019

SVC Newsletter – August 2019

Senecavirus is on the move

Background:
Senecavirus A (SVA) or Seneca Valley Virus is a virus that was initially discovered in cell culture as a contaminant in 2002, but is believed to have been in the US for at least the past 30 years based on historical viral isolates. This virus can cause lesions in the pig that are similar to Foot and Mouth Disease. Infected pigs may have blisters on their snout or hooves (particularly around the coronary bands) or they could be visually normal. In a population of pigs, you may notice increased lameness/ “dancing” sows, increased PWM or scouring piglets, fevers, lethargy, and off feed animals.

Current Status:
We have been seeing an increase in clinical SVA in the past month. Most cases usually occur between the spring and the fall, so we are currently in the midst of the typical SVA season. It is unknown exactly how this virus spreads, but it is believed to be transmitted on fomites, through direct contact and could potentially be spread by aerosolized virus.

 

Figure 1. Seneca Valley Virus Frequency (Courtesy of Dr. Bob Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project Weekly Report: 8/16/19)

 

What to do if you Suspect Seneca Valley Virus (Senecavirus A):
Contact your SVC veterinarian immediately. Cancel any loads leaving the site until a full work up has been done and you have permission from the State officials. Proper paperwork will need to accompany animals for transport from infected populations to slaughter facilities.

Prevention:
It is important to execute proper biosecurity measures all year round. Observing a clean/dirty line or bench entry and either showering in or changing clothing and washing hands prior to entering the barns are good practices. Transportation vehicles coming back from the packing plant are often contaminated and should be cleaned and disinfected properly before re-entering a pig premise. Clear clean/dirty lines at the chute are also help-ful to keep pathogens out of the barn. Animal entries, such as gilts into a sow farm, are also a risk to the farm. These animals need to be monitored closely for any clinical signs prior to shipping them to a sow farm. Additionally, feed has been reported to contain Senecavirus A in Brazil. Using feed mitigants can help to reduce the infective pathogens in the feed.

Study Participation Alert:
Dr. Matt Sturos, a veterinary pathologist and UMN graduate student, is working on a project investigating incidence of Senecavirus A in market-weight hogs and prevalence on transport vehicles for market hogs. Dr. Sturos would like to enroll finishing sites that expect to begin marketing over the next 1-2 months. If you’d like to participate in this study, please let your SVC veterinarian know.

 

 

 

 

 

No portion of this newsletter may be used/copied without written consent of Swine Vet Center

Recent Posts

  • Reducing PRRS outbreaks by using air filtration: What you need to know
  • Top-notch gilt management requires attention to details
  • SVC Newsletter – December 2020
  • Not making biosecurity improvements can cost more than making them
  • SVC Newsletter – November 2020

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019

    Categories

    • SVC NEWS

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    PHT+ NEWS FEEDwhat is this?

    Negotiating extra label drug use rules

    TOOLBOX, Issue 21: Rick Swalla, DVM, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about regulations concerning extra label drug use.

    Ct values predict PRRS nursery mortality, can guide vaccination decisions

    DISCOVERIES, Issue 18: Obtaining cycle threshold (Ct) values based on processing fluids provides a practical way to identify neonatal pigs at risk for nursery mortality associated with PRRS and can help determine when vaccination is worthwhile.

    Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’

    It appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen, DVM, PhD, distinguished global professor at the University of Minnesota.

    Iowa scientists focused on diagnosing, managing Streptococcus suis in pigs

    Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of S. suis.

    High prevalence of PCV2 recombinants highlights importance of broad vaccine coverage

    DISCOVERIES, Issue 21: A recent analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genetic sequences shows that up to 25% of field strains are recombinants of diverse genotypes, highlighting the importance of broad protection when selecting a PCV2 vaccine.

    Iowa scientist sees ‘a lot of genetic diversity’ in swine influenza viruses

    According to research, swine influenza A viruses have become more complicated in recent years. There is a great deal of diversity within the influenza virus.

    Three ways to assess your herd’s ‘positive welfare state’

    The “Five Freedoms” have been the foundation for establishing sound animal welfare practices since they were developed in 1965. Now, more than 50 years later, researchers have additional tools and technologies to take that basic knowledge a step further.

    Fostera® PRRS protects against diverse PRRS virus field strains

    DISCOVERIES, Issue 19: PRRS has been described as one of the most important swine diseases of the last half-century. An estimated 20% to 25% of herds are still affected, and the syndrome remains the US swine industry’s most costly disease.

    Pork’s future relies on trust throughout the pork value chain

    In the end, raising hogs is about producing pork, and continuous success depends on building customers’ trust, listening to expectations and meeting their needs.

    Genetic diversity makes swine influenza a challenge for producers

    Influenza A virus in swine is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging swine production systems in the US and around the world.

    Decontamination protocols fail to disinfect incoming hog supplies

    Biosecurity protocols are critical to keeping the US hog herd healthy, and one of the regular tasks is to disinfect a wide range of supplies entering the farm, but how effective are those protocols?

    What they don’t tell you in veterinary school: Take care of yourself

    A romanticized view of the veterinary profession, gleaned from sources like the famous Brit, James Herriot’s novel “All Creatures Great and Small,” doesn’t always mesh with the reality.

    Neonatal pigs with low levels of viremia may benefit from PRRS vaccination

    TOOLBOX, Issue 19: An interview with
    Jose Angulo, DVM,
    PRRS Specialist,
    Managing Veterinarian,
    Zoetis 

    Pork industry makes progress on pain management

    Pain management for pigs has always been a challenge, partly because it’s difficult to measure levels of pain and partly because there are no FDA-approved drugs labeled for pain management in pigs.

    Can the processing-fluid toolbox expand beyond PRRS?

    Piglet processing fluids have been shown to be a practical, time-efficient and affordable diagnostic tool for PRRS, and some indications suggest that PCV2 offers promise as well.

    Take a process-driven approach to influenza control

    US pork producers should strive to produce influenza-negative pigs if they want to see the benefits of increased productivity, reduced secondary infections and antibiotic use, reduced influenza dissemination, decreased influenza diversity and reduced risk of zoonotic infections.

    Committing time, attention to pig’s first 24 hours key to health, uniformity

    The farrowing room is a demanding place — one that needs to accommodate the divergent needs of a 500+-pound sow and her 10, 15 or 20 piglets weighing anywhere from 1.5 to 3 pounds.

    COVID-19 impact on swine industry headlines 2020 virtual Leman Conference

    COVID-19’s global-altering tentacles reached the 2020 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference scheduled Sept. 19-22. This year’s conference will be held virtually.

    Researchers ‘look beyond the normal’ to identify emerging disease

    The first case of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep. zoo) was identified in the US pig population last fall, and it’s not an organism to be taken lightly.

    Addressing ‘unknown factors’ in sow mortality

    Sow mortality has been on the rise in the US pork industry, reaching upwards of 15% in many sow-production systems, said Ashley Johnson, DVM, technical services veterinarian with Zoetis.

    Rate of PCV2 recombination not widely recognized

    TOOLBOX, Issue 16: An interview with Meggan Bandrick, DVM, PhD Associate Director, Global Biologics Research, Zoetis

    Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases

    Whether the issue is an emerging disease such as porcine epidemic diarrhea or the threat of African swine fever, being prepared is key to minimizing the potential impact on the US swine herd and expediting the recovery.

    Veterinarians, mind your mental health

    Veterinarians deal with stress under the best circumstances. But in this time of difficult decisions for pork producers and those who service them due to COVID-19, maintaining mental health is even more of a concern.

    Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs

    For both the sow and piglet, an animal that does not perform to its potential or falls behind its counterparts will negatively impact the sow farm’s productivity and profitability.

    Vaccine trial data versus lineage: What’s the best way to predict PRRS vaccine performance?

    TOOLBOX, Issue 20: An interview with Eva Jablonski, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis

    Antimicrobial resistance causing few clinical problems in swine

    Clinical problems in swine due to antimicrobial-resistant infections are rare. In fact, patterns of resistance in swine have been stable for a long time.

    Comparing diagnostic sampling prospects from M. hyo-positive-source boar studs

    Many sow farms have undergone M. hyo elimination within their breeding herd, which makes it critical to understand the potential transmission risk from boar studs.

    Watch your Strep: Keep your guard up for this evolving bacterium

    Few things remain the same for long on a hog farm. By the very nature of today’s production system, pigs are continuously moving on or off a site. One thing that remains constant is Strep suis.

    Processing fluids provide an option to monitor PCV2 and PCVAD

    Effective PCV2 control relies on vaccination of healthy pigs before they become infected. This goal cannot be accomplished in unstable herds whose sows give birth to viremic pigs.

    Comparing PCV2 gilt vaccination protocols and progeny status

    Porcine circovirus type 2 is the principal etiological agent of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), which can cost producers an estimated $3 to $4 per pig.

    Automatic foggers fall short in disinfecting hog-farm supplies

    Preventing fomites from carrying pathogens into hog farms is a daily biosecurity priority, but how effective are typical disinfection protocols?

    Gebhart: Cracking the Strep suis code

    Streptococcus suis (Strep suis) is becoming more prevalent and more complex in US swine herds. The coccoid-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium is also a zoonotic disease, capable of transmission from pigs to humans.

    Study compares PRRSV antibody-sampling options for sows

    When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory virus it’s important for the veterinarian and farm personnel to know the health status of a herd or barn.

    German researchers: Pigs, poultry not susceptible to COVID-19

    Scientists in Germany have confirmed that pigs and chickens are not susceptible to COVID-19.

    How stress hammers a pig’s intestinal system

    Experts say some forms of sustained stress can weaken a pig’s immune system and make it more vulnerable to disease and performance losses.

    Swine dysentery makes an unwelcome comeback

    Just when US pork producers thought swine dysentery was a problem of the past, it has re-emerged for an unwelcome encore in a slightly different form.

    Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill

    An effective biosecurity strategy is not a stagnant process. It is continuously influenced by changes in pig-flows, disease pressures, virus evolution, emerging health issues and more.

    Ellis: No magic bullet to reduce pre-wean mortality

    Pre-wean mortality has increased over the last 15 years, and it’s a major concern for US pork producers and veterinarians.

    Outmaneuvering PRRSV requires a better understanding of genetic diversity

    PRRSV is constantly evolving, resulting in an extremely diverse virus with multiple lineages, but building a better understanding of that genetic diversity is the next step to making real progress against the disease.

    Deen: Apply old lessons to new technologies

    Classical education emphasizes the need for industries to adopt new technologies to keep up with external demands and constantly changing economic environments.

    Pollmann: Make the most of your human capital

    The US pork industry is challenging under the best of circumstances, with enough variables to make even astute, savvy businesspeople cautious. However, one of the biggest components of a successful, healthy operation is human capital.

    No. 1 biosecurity lesson: Never stop improving

    The first lesson of biosecurity, according to Andrea Pitkin, DVM, health assurance veterinarian for PIC, is to learn, modify and adapt because new threats can surface at any time.

    Researchers tackle survivability issues head-on

    One in three pigs born on US farms fail to reach market, according to Jason Ross, PhD, a professor of animal physiology at Iowa State University and director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center.

    Mycoplasma elimination possible, but more difficult on farrow-to-finish sites

    With the right program in place, eliminating mycoplasma pneumonia is possible on many hog farms.

    Larger litters, more competition for colostrum make pigs more susceptible to clostridial enteritis

    By Daniel A. Nelson, PhD,
    Senior nutritionist, pork technical services,
    Zoetis

    Sow pads show promise for reducing shoulder sores, related infections

    During farrowing and lactation, sows can easily develop shoulder sores, which in turn become infected.  Could a little padding help?   

    Population-based diagnostics pinpoint the power in numbers

    The world of diagnostics is expanding. Instead of focusing on individual animals, population-based diagnostics help veterinarians and producers identify the health status of their barns more quickly and efficiently.

    Processing fluids’ effectiveness in monitoring PCV2 in sow herds

    Vaccines have provided effective control options for PCV2, but vertical transmission remains a challenge for some farms.

    Steps to mitigate cross-contamination of piglet processing fluids with PRRS MLV

    As piglets move from the sow farm to the growing stage, it’s important to know their porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) status.

    Phase I of pelvic organ prolapse study offers new insights

    A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a dramatic, easy-to-identify event within the farrowing room. The difficult part is figuring out the cause and applying a solution.

    • About Us
    • Our Services
    • Meet the Team
    • SVC News
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • More

    CONTACT US

    Send us a message

    Swine Vet Center P.A.
    1608 South Minnesota Avenue
    P.O. Box 269
    St. Peter, MN 56082

    Phone: 507.934.3970
    Fax: 507.934.3968
    ©2021 SWINE VET CENTER

    • ABOUT PHT+
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress