Industry Rallies to Fight Swine Disease: A 2020 Review
The U.S. swine industry is no stranger to dealing with disease challenges. When novel coronavirus reared its ugly head last spring, swine veterinarians were called upon for their expertise and experience in dealing with “herd immunity.”
Tim Loula, DVM, of Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minn., explained the key is understanding the disease status of each pig and population, and then working on a plan to get every pig “on the same page.”
As human medical doctors battled COVID-19, the pork industry didn’t let up on its battles to fight swine diseases that threaten pork operations around the country. Here’s a look back at some of the top health stories this year.
Strep Suis
Cracking the Strep Suis Code
No one seems to know why Streptococcus suis has re-emerged. Connie Gebhart and her team at the University of Minnesota are trying to crack the Strep suis code.
Autogenous Streptococcus Suis Vaccine Protects Piglets
A highly virulent organism. A new barn. A large number of piglets dying of meningitis. Scott Dee, DVM, shares how Pipestone set out to prove efficacy of an autogenous vaccine for Streptococcus suis.
Researchers Look Beyond the Normal to Identify Emerging Disease
The first case of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep. zoo) was identified in the U.S. pig population last fall, and it’s not an organism to be taken lightly. Here's why.
PRRS
PRRS: Deciphering the Mystery Disease
Everywhere veterinarians turned, the “mystery disease” was devastating sow herds and wiping out pigs. Read part one of our three-part series on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).
PRRS Beyond 2020: The Fight Isn’t Over
Questions remain. Although the knowledge and discovery surrounding porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS) have exploded in the past three decades since the mystery disease first struck U.S. pig farms, the industry is still fine-tuning protocols.
5 Ways PRRS Made Us Better
Although PRRS is not a new disease, it continues to affect pig farmers and is the No. 1 cause of economic impact in the U.S. swine industry. Still, industry experts say the disease has made us better.
Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae
Tracheal Sampling for M. Hyo May Hold New Benefits
Tracheal sampling is a good way to determine if Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is present in a herd, but it’s invasive and can be difficult to accomplish. However, it may offer a valuable benefit, says Brandi Burton, DVM.
New Research Takes a Look at the Speed of Pneumonia Transmission in Replacement Female Pigs
Research supports knowledge of a slow rate of transmission of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and suggests more accurate sampling methods for testing is needed to aid disease surveillance and to stop introduction to negative farms.
Fogging Helps Establish Day 0 for M. Hyo Elimination
Can fogging (aerosolized exposure) be a useful tool in the process to eliminate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in your herd?
PCV3
PCV3: When Do You Intervene?
Emily Byers, DVM, is frequently asked: How do you know if PCV3 is real? She says the more important question may be: How do you know if or when you should intervene?
Diagnostic Experts: PCV3 is Common in U.S. Swine Herds
Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) was first reported in 2016, but appears to have been present in swine populations decades prior to that time, said Bailey Arruda, DVM.
SHIC Study: PCV3 Associations with Clinical Signs and Pathology
A Swine Health Information Center study on PCV3 looks at associations between the presence of PCV3 and its viral load, and specific lesions and clinical conditions.
Is PCV3 in Your Swine Herd?
Although there are still many unknowns about PCV3, Chris Sievers, a veterinarian with Swine Vet Center, offered his thoughts on what producers can do when it comes to this fairly new disease.
