During the AASV Annual Meeting, 28 veterinary students interviewed conference speakers to gain additional information about their presentation topic. The next of these MP3 audio interviews is now available to members on the AASV website at http://www.aasv.org/members/only/pod/. Student member Maya Bellapianta interviewed Dr. Cesar Corzo who spoke on “Swine influenza active surveillance in the United States” as part of the Research Topics session. Watch for additional podcast interviews in the coming weeks!
Monthly Archives: March 2011
Manitoba Hog Farmers Pledge Sow Stall Phase-out
Major and possibly expensive changes lie ahead for Manitoba’s 700 hog producers as the result of a new roadmap for the industry’s future.
U.S. Pork, Beef Exports off to Solid Start in 2011
January exports of U.S. pork were well above year-ago levels, though it took a step back from the totals recorded in the previous month, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports totaled 165,138 metric tons valued at $396.9 million – an increase of 15 percent in volume and 19 percent in value over January 2010.
2011 Leman Science Award Recipient Announced
Gordon D. Spronk, D.V.M., of Pipestone, Minnesota, will be honored with the Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and Pfizer Animal Health. Dr. Spronk is being honored for his outstanding contributions to the creation and dissemination of new knowledge for the betterment of the swine industry.
GAO Report Advocates for Single Federal Food Safety Agency
To improve the nation’s access to safe food, the General Accountability Office is recommending in a new report the creation of a single federal agency to oversee it and run a unified food-safety system.
2011 Annual Meeting Video: Wes Jamison
The AASV 2011 Annual Meeting general session presentation by Dr. Wes Jamison is the first to be available online at http://www.aasv.org/members/only/video/2011.php Dr. Jamison spoke on the animal welfare movement, agenda building, and policy.
Prevalence of Antibody to Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. in Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) of Eastern North Carolina
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) survive in many climates, reproduce year-round, and are dietary generalists. In the United States, the size and range of the feral pig population has expanded, resulting in greater interaction with humans and domestic swine and increased potential for disease transmission. We conducted a serosurvey in feral pigs from eastern North Carolina to determine exposure to the zoonotic parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. Between September 2007 and March 2009, blood serum was collected from 83 feral pigs harvested at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, Four Oaks, North Carolina, USA. We used a modified agglutination test to test for T. gondii antibodies and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test for Trichinella spp. antibodies. The prevalences of antibodies to T. gondii and Trichinella spp. were 27.7% and 13.3%, respectively and 4% (n=3) had antibodies to both agents. We detected an increased risk of T. gondii antibodies with age, whereas the risk of exposure to T. gondii across years and between sexes was similar. In eastern North Carolina, feral pigs have been exposed to T. gondii and Trichinella spp. and may pose a health risk to domestic swine and humans.
Swine Outbreak of Pandemic Influenza A Virus on a Canadian Research Farm Supports Human-to-Swine Transmission
Swine outbreaks of pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) suggest human introduction of the virus into herds. This study investigates a pH1N1 outbreak occurring on a swine research farm with 37 humans and 1300 swine in Alberta, Canada, from 12 June through 4 July 2009.
AASV Seeks Summer Intern
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians is a non-profit organization committed to increasing the knowledge of swine veterinarians. The AASV is seeking a veterinary student to work as a summer intern in the Perry, Iowa office. The intern must be a student in good standing at an accredited College of Veterinary Medicine in North America.
PQA Plus Advisor Trainings in Mankato on May 11 and Oct. 26
PQA Plus Trainings for first-time advisors is planned May 11 and Oct. 26 in Mankato. Applicants must complete an application form to demonstrate they qualify for PQA Plus Advisor Training. The application deadline is April 29 for the May 11 training and Oct. 14 for the Oct. 26 training. For application form and more information: http://www.mnpork.com/producers/ed/PQAADVTR.php