National Hog Farmer is pleased to announce another episode of “Science Talks,” a webinar series sponsored by Merck Animal Health, airing on August 13 at 1 p.m. Central. During this one-hour video webinar “Emerging Diseases in Swine: Past, Present, and the Future”, Drs. Stephanie Rossow and Phil Gauger will leverage their experiences to provide insight as to why and how pathogens emerge as new diseases in swine populations.
Monthly Archives: July 2020
SHIC Sponsored Research in Vietnam Looks at Risk of ASF Transmission via Boar Studs
The common practice of artificial insemination (AI) in pork production often involves outside equipment, specialized crews, and off-site boar studs. Because AI has been linked to the spread of several pig disease outbreaks, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) is using USDA-FAS grant funds to sponsor research in Vietnam on the risk of introducing African swine fever (ASF) via this route. Specifically, the study will examine potential introduction of ASF to a sow farm as a result of semen movement from apparently healthy boar studs located in an ASF disease control area. Conducted by a team from the University of Minnesota with academic partners from the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, the study will include a pro-active risk assessment (RA) systematically evaluating the potential risk of semen movements during an outbreak. Resulting information will help the US swine industry continue to prepare for foreign animal disease issues as well as implement science-based prevention protocols.
SHIC Issues a Call for Proposals for Improved Oral Fluids PCR Sensitivity
Recent unpublished, observational research indicates oral fluids (OF), when collected by rope as an aggregate sample, could be a good sample for rapid detection of African swine fever virus (ASFv). However this experimental data also suggests that there is potential for false negative testing results. Therefore, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) is calling for proposals to develop methods to improve the detection of low levels of nucleic acid in OF through enhancements to sample pre-extraction treatment(s) or through improved extraction methodologies compatible with the high throughput testing currently done in NAHLN laboratories.
Commercially Available Cell Line Rapidly Detects African Swine Fever Virus
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have identified a new way to detect the presence of live African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) that minimizes the need for samples from live animals and provides easier access to veterinary labs that need to diagnose the virus. [Source: USDA ARS 28 July 2020]
The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet): Report of a Workshop on Live Animal Handling
The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet) was established in 2016, to provide a means of communication and support for the global high-containment laboratory community. Its working groups focus on international response, institutional cooperation and knowledge sharing, scientific excellence and training. In the latter role, BSL4ZNet sponsored its first international workshop in February 2018, held at the USDA National Centers for Animal Health, Ames, Iowa, USA, focused on necropsy procedures in high-containment laboratories. A second workshop, in November 2018, was held at the National Microbiology Laboratories (CFIA/PHAC) in Winnipeg, Canada, and focused on decontamination. A third workshop, held at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Australia, in February 2019, was devoted to handling methods and ethical concerns for live animals in high-containment laboratories. The third workshop brought together 12 laboratorians from seven partner organizations in Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. It included both discussion-based and hands-on training sessions on animal welfare, animal models, site-specific infrastructure constraints, health monitoring and humane endpoints, sampling procedures, and carcass disposal. This report summarizes the inception, development, and structure of the BSL4ZNet, and highlights the aims and results of the Geelong workshop. Pickering B, Spengler J, Shadabi E, Dalziel A, Lautner E, Silva P. The Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet): Report of a workshop on live animal handling. Antiviral Res. 2019 Dec. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104640
Call for Survey Participants – Pain Control
North Carolina State University is conducting research on the use of pain control drugs on-farm. The goal of this research study is to gain a better understanding of the use of pain management drugs throughout the swine industry.
Global Action Needed Now to Halt Spread of Deadly Pig Disease
The escalation of the spread of African swine fever (ASF) has placed most of the world’s domestic and wild pig populations under direct threat. To support countries’ efforts to protect economies and food security, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today launch a joint initiative for the Global Control of ASF. [Source: OIE 20 July 2020]
Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals Web-based Course Begins on August 5
Need some veterinary continuing education credits? Register by August 10 for the Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals online course.
Register by Aug 5 for the AASV Foundation Golf Outing
With careful attention to social distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 precautions, plans are moving forward for the annual AASV Foundation Golf Outing, which is returning to Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames, Iowa on Thursday, August 20. Registration is now open and due by August 5. Last year, 51 golfers enjoyed a picture-perfect day on this well-groomed course. While we can’t promise the same weather again this year, there is plenty of room for additional golfers — so dust off those clubs and register to spend a relaxing day outdoors with your colleagues in support of the foundation.
What’s YOUR tip?
The dictionary defines a “tip” as a small but useful piece of practical advice. Synonyms include a hint, suggestion, pointer, clue, guideline, recommendation, word of warning, or counsel. AASV members have been offering useful pieces of practical advice to fellow members for many years as part of the AASV Annual Meeting. Now it is your turn! What suggestion, pointer, clue, or word of warning can you share? Please sign up to share a piece of advice, guideline, or recommendation at the 2021 AASV Annual Meeting in San Francisco! Presentations are only 10 minutes in length and no abstract is required! Prizes will be awarded for the top presenters. Please contact Melissa Billing (melissa.billing@boehringer-ingelheim.com) or the AASV office (aasv@aasv.org) to sign-up or suggest a colleague or topic.