CWSHIN REPORT ON SWINE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR 2nd QUARTER 2020 (APRIL TO June) – 12 August 2020
Messages
The result of the “Purple sows” investigation (see last quarter) was that the condition seems to be very rare and PCV3 (Porcine circovirus 3) may be only one of many pathogens that can cause purple sows.
An increase in diarrhea (Digestive syndrome) was driven by three diseases Colibacillosis, Rotavirus and Salmonella. It was observed that Salmonella was isolated more frequently – usually together with another pathogen. Diarrhea with no mortality in late nursery caused concern as a differential to PED.
In a batch of good looking pigs, 10% were condemned at slaughter with lung lesions. APP (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 12) was confirmed by laboratory diagnosis. APP primarily affects pigs of 8 to 16 weeks. The key clinical signs include heavy breathing difficulties; blueing of the ears; sudden death with bleeding from the nose. The incubation period is very short, as little as 12 hours through to three days. Toxins produce severe damage to the lungs
Practical tips from the report
Watch out for “purple sows”; diarrhea; and sever lung disease. Contact you herd practitioner:
- when you see “purple sows”
- when you see unusual diarrhea
- if your finishers have: a short cough; severe heavy breathing difficulties – sitting with open mouth and pumping flanks
Biosecurity – protect your pigs
If you feel sick (flu-like symptoms, cough, fever), stay home.
Discuss and review barriers and possibility for contact between your farmed pigs and wild pigs with your herd practitioner.
Assembly yards, layover facilities etc. (high traffic & high-risk facilities) and connected transport continue to be a risk for PED.
Producers are reminded that infected manure is a possible route of disease introduction and to take extra precautions when spreading possibly infected manure.
CWSHIN is terminating the support to the CWSHIN app – 28 May 2020
The idea behind the CWSHIN app was to complement the Clinical Impression Surveys and the laboratory reports with data from actual farm visits in real-time. A new updated version of the CWSHIN app was launched 13 July 2018 but no swine practitioner has used it regularly since then. The original idea behind the app was good but with so little use by practitioners, CWSHIN has decided to end all support for the app.
CWSHIN Report on swine health surveillance for 1st quarter 2020 (January to March) – 8 May 2020
Messages from the report
With the new CIS we have the clinical impression from about 61% of the region’s commercial swine premises.
The digestive syndrome that includes diarrhea was more common than other syndromes and diseases.
The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) clean-up in Manitoba is progressing well but new cases of PED have been confirmed in Ontario and Quebec in2020
Practical tips from the report
People with flu-like symptoms (coughing, fever et.) should not enter any barns with swine – the concern is both influenza and COVID-19.
Abattoir, assembly yards, layover facilities etc. (high traffic high risk facilities) and connected transport continue to be a risk for PED and other diseases.
Producers are reminded that manure from previously PED-infected barns is a possible route of introduction and to take extra precautions when spreading possibly infected manure.
Unusual condition - purple sows
Sows affected with purple discolouring located on belly and legs (see images below) may be a rare condition – we don’t know. One loose housing sow site (3,000) had approximately 30 weaned sows (P1/P2) affected with purple discolouring located on belly and legs. The sows had normal appetite and recovered after about a week. There were no signs in piglets. Following lab results, no definitive diagnosis was confirmed. Rare cases of purple sows have been reported on other sow farms, but we do not know how frequent the condition is or if it has any impact on production, especially reproduction. Please help us gather information about this unusual condition: Click here to answer three quick questions.
Ontario Animal Health Network (OAHN) Swine Network Quarterly Producer/Industry Report
The first detection of Sapelovirus in Ontario: What swine producers need to look for…
CWSHIN Report on swine health surveillance for 4th quarter 2019 (October to December) 2019 – 19 February 2020
Messages from the report
The CWSHIN objectives include early detection of emerging disease issues therefore we are following the situation with Coronavirus in humans (COVID-2019). To date there is:
- no evidence that COVID-2019 is similar to swine specific coronavirus
- no evidence that pigs may be susceptible to COVID-2019.
COVID-2019 is in the media daily and misinformation and fake news are circulating on social media. Please use official sources of facts/information such as:
I am happy to announce that the new Clinical Impression Survey is an improvement. The new tombstone information adds credibility to the surveys and In Q4 we had good representation across the four provinces.
An improvement (and new) is that data from the new surveys allow us to compare the impression of clinical disease occurrence across the syndromes we monitor. The Digestive syndrome was the most frequent syndrome followed by the Respiratory syndrome.
The PED control in AB and MB is progressing well. The strength of surveillance by environmental sampling was demonstrated and there was good communication among provinces to help understand a PED positive environmental sample at a high traffic site.
Practical tips from the report
We may be between Influenza peaks (in January/February) but the next peak is expected in April/May.
Strict biosecurity for any contact with high traffic locations is critical to protect your herd.
Producers are reminded that infected manure is a possible route of disease introduction and to take extra precautions when spreading possible PED infected manure.
Strep zoo is important to trade of culled sows and a need for diagnostic test development was identified.
LINKS TO FARMSCAPE ARTICLES BASED ON THE REPORT
Message from CWSHIN NEWS #15 – 29 November 2019
The PED control efforts in the 82 confirmed cases in Manitoba are beginning to show results: 41 has achieved Transitional status and of these 15 has also achieved Presumptive Negative status.
High traffic high risk facilities and connected transport continue to be a risk for PED in Manitoba.
Producers are reminded that infected manure is a possible route of disease introduction and to take extra precautions when spreading possibly infected manure.
CWSHIN Report on Swine health surveillance for Quarter 3 (July to September) 2019 – 12 November 2019
Messages from the report
The CWSHIN objectives include early detection of emerging disease issues. Therefore, we strive to flag and discuss new or unusual signs of disease regardless if the cause of disease is considered common or not. One of the emerging diseases from the second quarter (Strep equi zooepidermicus or Strep zoo for short) is still lingering and causes some concern especially in Manitoba and the US Midwest. It has now been named a potential emerging disease threat.
When we face emerging swine health issues or unusual presentation of known diseases, swine producers, herd practitioners, swine health experts in laboratories and governments must be prepared to work together openly and closely.
During the first days or few weeks, sharing information is key to limiting spread of emerging swine health issues. CWSHIN strives to provide a semi-private forum for sharing information among key players in the region.
The CWSHIN objectives also include sharing information on response to regional diseases. This quarter, lessons learned from dealing with an emerging disease and experience with safely shipping PED recovered pigs to slaughter were discussed.
Practical tips from the report
The flu season has started early this year so, it’s time for the flu-shot to protect people who work with pigs, their families and the pigs.
If you see sudden deaths or higher than normal repeats or abortions call your swine practitioner (veterinary clinic).
High-risk traffic facilities and connected transport continue to be a risk for PED and other diseases such as Strep zoo
- Focus on transport biosecurity for cull sows and market hogs
- Infected manure is a possible route of PED introduction so take extra precautions when spreading possibly infected manure
Link to Ontario Animal Health Network (OAHN) Swine Network Report
CWSHIN Report on Swine health surveillance for Quarter 2 (April to June) 2019 –26 August 2019
There is reason to be extra vigilant because we have three potentially emerging diseases and two of these diseases can mimic foreign animal diseases.
- A new streptococcus disease in sows/gilts has been reported in MB in 2019 (Strep equi zooepidemicus)
- Two cases of a disease with substantial lesions have reported in BC/AB (Clostridium septicum). This disease is worthy of attention because it can mimic African and Classical Swine Fever.
- Two cases of Seneca Valley virus A (SVA) have been reported in Ontario. This disease can mimic Foot and Mouth Disease
Practical tips from the report
Contact your swine practitioner if you see:
- sudden deaths in gilts/sows or an increase in abortions and conception rates (Strep zoo)
- blisters (SVA)
Good biosecurity around transport of animals including cull sows and market hogs to abattoirs is critical to limit the spread of these potentially emerging diseases.
Links to Farmscape articles based on the report
WCASV-CWSHIN PED conference call - 24 June 2019
Western Canadian Association for Swine Veterinarians (WCASV) and Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN) are hosting a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) conference call for invited swine health practitioners in the region. The context is the spread of PED over the recent months with totals for 2019 (19 June 2019): 4 confirmed cases in Alberta and 36 in Manitoba.
Organizers: Drs Blaine Tully and Jette Christensen
Agenda
- Welcome & Regional status
- Surveillance, sources and spread
- Clinical presentation, response and integrator vet experience
- Questions
CWSHIN Report on Swine health surveillance for Quarter 1 (January to March) 2019 –14 May 2019
Practical tips
Use “war-time biosecurity measures” for the next 6 weeks as we are into the high-risk period for PED.
Contact your swine practitioner if your see diarrhea.
Strict biosecurity both at the border and surrounding each farm is still paramount.
Highlights
The high rate of respiratory lesions at abattoirs in SK/MB that we have seen in 2018 has dropped so SK/MB is now on par with East.
The total number of regional PED confirmed cases in the first quarter of 2019 was: 4 cases in AB and 2 cases in MB.
A desirable increase in submissions for diarrhea and PED awareness was seen in AB following the first cases of PED.
The high-risk period for PED in Manitoba extends from the beginning of April to mid-June so there is every reason to apply “war-time biosecurity measures” for the next 6 weeks.
Porcine Circovirus 3 (PCV3) has been detected by PRC by PDS. However, it is not known if PCV3 is an emerging new disease or a harmless virus.
Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is a challenge in backyard pigs in Brazil and in wild pigs in Japan.
Check out our new CWSHIN app!
Available in both the Apple and android app stores, this is a quick and easy way to collect, assess and input herd health data right into the surveillance network.
Updates & Events
Surveillance Planning Session took place in Winnipeg – 5 March 2019
CWSHIN strives to produce timely and informative disease information. To that end, we hosed an in-person meeting on March 5, 2019 to discuss reporting and data collection strategies, to maximize efficiency in the analysis of the data that is being collected.
