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It’s Time to Renew Your AASV Membership for 2015

Your 2015 AASV membership renewal notice should have arrived in your mailbox by now. Renew your membership by mail or online at http://ecom.aasv.org/membership. The annual membership dues of $220 enable access to the many benefits described at https://www.aasv.org/aasv/membership.html, including new content in the Swine Information Library, and access to the Get it for Me literature search and document retrieval service offered by the Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library. Retired members (who have belonged to AASV for ten consecutive years or more) and full-time graduate students qualify for reduced dues rates. Please contact the AASV if you have any questions regarding your membership status or the renewal materials: aasv@aasv.org or 515-465-5255.

Genetic Diversity of PRRS Virus Collected from Air Samples in Four Different Regions of Concentrated Swine Production during a High Incidence Season

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most relevant swine diseases in the US, costing the industry millions of dollars per year. Unfortunately, disease control is difficult because of the virus dynamics, as PRRS virus (PRRSV) can be transmitted by air between farms, especially, in regions with high density of swine operations. While long distance airborne transport of PRRSV has been reported, there is little information regarding the dynamics of PRRSV airborne challenge in concentrated regions. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of detection, dose and diversity of PRRSV in air samples collected across four concentrated production regions during the PRRS-high risk season in the Midwestern US (October–December) in 2012. Between 29% and 42% of the air samples were positive in all four sampling sites. Sequencing of the recovered virus showed a wide diversity of field and vaccine variants. Higher frequency, dose, and diversity of PRRSV were observed in air at locations with higher pig density. These findings suggest that regional spread of PRRSV due to aerosol transmission of PRRSV represents a significant risk to susceptible herds in concentrated regions of domestic pig production where PRRSV is endemic.

AASVF Auction Dedicated to Dr Rod and Jean Johnson

Under the banner “Follow your passion!” AASV members and industry supporters have been called to participate in the annual auction fundraiser for the AASV Foundation. It’s only fitting that this year’s AASVF Auction Committee has dedicated the 2015 fundraiser in honor of two of the foundation’s most passionate supporters, the late Dr Rod Johnson and his wife, Jean. The auction will take place Monday, March 2 during the AASV Annual Meeting in Orlando.

2015 AASV Annual Meeting Goes Magical – Electronic Proceedings and a Mobile App!

At its 2013 fall meeting, the AASV Board of Directors voted to discontinue printing the annual meeting proceedings booklets starting in 2015. Therefore, in keeping with the theme of the Magic Kingdom and the high tech world of Harry Potter, we’re going electronic in Orlando. There will be no printed proceedings at the 2015 meeting – no big book, no seminar booklets. This change was not made lightly. The inefficiencies and costs associated with printing and distributing these publications, however, helped rationalize the final decision.