To better understand the spread of influenza and to protect both pigs and people, the National Swine Registry (NSR) has been collaborating with The Ohio State University’s Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine since 2016 to learn more about influenza transmission.
During this time, under the leadership of Andrew Bowman, Ohio State has conducted swine influenza research at many NSR and National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) events, in addition to many jackpot shows and other major livestock shows across the country.
Influenza Surveillance at Shows
In 2009, Ohio State began studying influenza transmission at county fairs. In 2016, they branched out to see how that compares to transmission at national jackpot shows. Bowman says surveillance work has been funded through at least 2028.
“At jackpot shows, in general, we don’t see a high prevalence, but we do find influenza there. Whereas at county fairs, it’s much more hit or miss if we’re going to actually find the flu. But when we find it, it’s at a much higher prevalence,” Bowman says.
The problem? Influenza often “explodes” through a county fair show. Bowman and his team approached NSR about partnering to better understand if there’s a different dynamic taking place at the national swine shows.
“We wanted to see if the dynamics were similar. And if not, why? What lessons can we then translate into recommendations for county fair organizers?” he points out. “But also, are there things we can do at national shows to limit spread? We’ve certainly learned that the influenza transmission dynamics is different at national shows than what we see in county fairs.”
Why is Influenza Transmission Different at National Shows?
The results of the surveillance project have been interesting, says NSR CEO Clay Zwilling.
“We have found that our health regulation requirements validate our emphasis on swine health, resulting in exceptionally minimal traces of swine influenza at our events. We began including in our language in 2019 that ‘we highly recommend all swine being exhibited be vaccinated for influenza’ and we saw even greater improvement from the already low traces. When we have required the vaccine, we see little, to sometimes no potential strands of influenza,” Zwilling says.
Bowman says there are probably many reasons for this difference.
“I think some of it has to do with the general health of those animals. I think that pigs at national jackpot shows probably are getting vaccinated for flu. I think they’re probably out on the show circuit a lot and they’ve probably been exposed and built immunity. Granted, that’s pure speculation because we can’t bleed pigs at shows but nonetheless, that’s my hunch,” Bowman says.
He also points to improved practices such as declaring weights versus running every pig across a scale has helped minimize some transmission opportunities. Bowman also says reducing the time pigs are required to be at the show has also been a positive move from a health standpoint.
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NSR and NJSA changed their show rules to allow exhibitors to leave the show as soon as exhibition was completed.
“This gets our shows into the recommended exhibition time of less than 72 hours by National Pork Board and we have found pigs leave our events healthier,” Zwilling says. “In addition, reports from exhibitors indicate that with their biosecurity practices, they often have no issues transitioning back home.”
County fairs often want to keep all the pigs in the barn for as long as they can, Bowman says. But we know that the longer the pigs are at the show, the more opportunities exist for transmission to occur.
Why Flu Surveillance Matters
The influenza issue continues to be a problem, Bowman says.
“We have influenza and every year we have spillover occurring. We know influenza moving between species is not a good thing. When we have transmission to people, Public Health has to respond to that and treat it as the potential start of the next pandemic. That may not be the case, but nonetheless, that’s the playbook,” he says.
Minimizing influenza transmissions through show pig populations decreases that disease burden. He says it takes the pressure off of the swine industry as a whole.
“We’ve learned a lot about disease transmission through these networks, which becomes incredibly helpful as we try to control other endemic diseases, whether that’s PRRS or PEDV, and it also gives us some idea of gaps in responding to disease outbreaks,” Bowman says.
He’s quick to point out the collaborative relationship developed through the years may be the best result of the project between Ohio State and NSR.
“It started around flu, but it’s branched into a lot more that is going to pay dividends in the future,” Bowman says. “It’s allowed us to include the show pig industry in national-level talks about disease control and prevention that I think otherwise the show pig industry would have been left out of. I think this helps everyone.”
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