Surveillance data are key to informing decisions on the control and prevention of transboundary and emerging diseases. Here, we describe new methods for acquiring difficult to access, publicly available disease surveillance data. We use World Organisation for Animal Heath (OIE) data on African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks in European countries to showcase the importance of adequate disease surveillance data to inform decision-making. The data acquired using these methods allow for large scale, geospatial outbreak mapping and estimation of summary statistics for any listed terrestrial disease in the OIE World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) database. These techniques will make valuable epidemiological data more accessible to the scientific community, aiding further insight into the occurrence and spread of transboundary and emerging diseases in a timely manner, fulfilling an important function of disease surveillance. Leray L, Ward M. Web-scraping applied to acquire difficult to access animal disease outbreak information, using African Swine Fever in Europe as an example. Transbound Emerg Dis. May 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14133
Monthly Archives: May 2021
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Dissemination Across Pig Production Systems in the United States
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) remains widespread in the North American pig population. Despite improvements in virus characterization, it is unclear whether PRRSV infections are a product of viral circulation within production systems (local) or across production systems (external). Here, we examined the local and external dissemination dynamics of PRRSV and the processes facilitating its spread in three production systems. Overall, PRRSV genetic diversity has declined since 2018, while phylodynamic results support frequent external transmission. We found that PRRSV dissemination predominantly occurred mostly through transmission between farms of different production companies for several months, especially from November until May, a timeframe already established as PRRSV season. Although local PRRSV dissemination occurred mainly through regular pig flow (from sow to nursery and then to finisher farms), an important flux of PRRSV dissemination also occurred in the opposite direction, from finisher to sow and nursery farms, highlighting the importance of downstream farms as sources of the virus. Our results also showed that farms with pig densities of 500 to 1,000 pig/km2 and farms located at a range within 0.5 km and 0.7 km from major roads were more likely to be infected by PRRSV, whereas farms at an elevation of 41 to 61 meters and surrounded by denser vegetation were less likely to be infected, indicating their role as dissemination barriers. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that external dissemination was intense, and reinforce the importance of farm proximity on PRRSV spread. Thus, consideration of farm location, geographic characteristics and animal densities across production systems may help to forecast PRRSV collateral dissemination. Jara M, Rasmussen D, Corzo C, Machado G. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus dissemination across pig production systems in the United States. Transbound Emerg Dis. March 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13728
Due June 11 – FDA Seeks Public Comment on Potential Approach for Defining Durations of Use for Certain Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs for Food Animals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published a concept paper to obtain early input from the public on a potential framework for how animal drug sponsors could voluntarily make changes to the approved conditions of use for certain medically important antimicrobial drugs to establish a defined duration of use for those indications that currently lack a defined duration of use. FDA also published a notice in the Federal Register that invites the public to comment on specific questions regarding the concept paper. FDA is accepting public comments on the concept paper until June 11, 2021. [Source: FDA 8 Jan 2021]
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Kickoff Meeting June 17
The AASV Board of Directors established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee during their spring 2021 meeting. The committee will meet via Zoom on June 17 to discuss ways the committee can achieve the overarching goal of ensuring equitability and inclusion for everyone within the AASV, making sure each and every member feels welcome.
AASV Office Holiday Hours
The AASV office will be closed Monday May 31, 2021 for the Memorial Day holiday. The office will reopen Tuesday morning. Enjoy the holiday and join us in honoring our fallen heroes.
Invitation to Participate in an AASV-Foundation Funded Project – Assessing Senecavirus A Shedding and Transmission in Growing Pig Populations
Vesicular disease outbreaks due to Senecavirus A (SVA) continue to cause stress and economic burden to U.S. swine producers and production companies. This virus is responsible for the staggering and constantly increasing number of foreign animal disease (FAD) investigations performed by the USDA. During 2019, 1,845 out of 2,517 (73.3%) FAD investigations were due to swine vesicular diseases, mainly caused by SVA.
Committee Shoat Out: Collegiate Activities Committee
Committee Shoat Out: The Collegiate Activities focuses on student instruction during COVID-19.
The Morrison Swine Innovator Prize for DVM Students continues at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference!
Veterinary student, did you shadow a swine practitioner this summer or were involved in an interesting clinical case investigation? Did you work on your veterinary skills by designing a differential diagnosis list or working on a treatment plan? Did you investigate a problem by analyzing production records? Share your work at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference to win the Morrison Swine Innovator Prize!
Stop ASF: Public and Private Partnering for Success – OIE Virtual Meeting
From 14 June, you can access materials related to the live event on Public Private Partnerships, their importance for the control of ASF and experiences from all regions of the world.
“Notice of Availability-Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a Supplement to the Environmental Assessment (EA) entitled “”Field Evaluation of HOGGONE Sodium Nitrite Toxicant Bait for Feral Swine”””
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY – Alabama/Texas: Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, has issued a Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a Supplement to the Environmental Assessment (EA) entitled “Field Evaluation of HOGGONE® Sodium Nitrite Toxicant Bait for Feral Swine”. The Supplement to the EA analyzed data from past research field trials and highlighted changes incorporated into the application strategies and the product HOGGONE® and their potential environmental effects. Based on the analysis in the Supplement and the associated Decision/FONSI, WS concluded that implementation of the proposed action alterative (Alternative 2) would not have a significant impact upon the quality of the human environment. WS signed the Decision and FONSI on May 3, 2021 selecting the proposed action alterative. [Source: USDA APHIS 25 May 2021]