PEDv becoming a notifiable disease in England

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus will become a notifiable disease in England, effective December 18. Pig keepers and veterinarians will be legally required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) of any suspicion of the disease. The measure has been introduced by government at the request of pig industry bodies, including the National Pig Association (NPA).
If a test for PED virus proves positive, government action will be limited to informing industry, so that tracings can be carried out and improved biosecurity measures put in place. This is similar to the consensual Canadian approach to combatting the disease, which has proved effective, stated the NPA.
PED remains a significant threat to British pig-keepers. Outbreaks of high-impact strains caused up to 100 percent mortality in young pigs in the United States, knocking out around 10 percent of pig production in 2013-2014, and the disease has since spread to Ukraine. Even with milder European Union strains, piglet mortality as high as 70 percent has been reported.
NPA is calling the new measure “lightweight” notifiable because unlike with other notifiable diseases there will be no statutory movement controls, no compulsory slaughter and no blocks on exports.
Under the new legislation in England, APHA will be legally permitted to inform AHDB Pork — which is the agreed “appropriate organization” — in confidence of suspect and confirmed cases. AHDB Pork will then provide biosecurity guidance to the pig unit concerned. It will also carry out tracings and alert at-risk contacts as necessary.
The aim will be to prevent spread of PED virus and to eliminate the disease from the pig unit. There will be no requirement to slaughter affected animals.
PED virus has been made lightweight notifiable following an informal consultation process with the pig industry. NPA and others called for the measure so that any outbreak can be identified as quickly as possible, spread can be prevented, and the disease can then be eliminated from the unit concerned.
“The industry’s method of tackling the disease and ensuring it doesn't spread will be to introduce a raft of biosecurity measures,” said NPA chief executive Dr. Zoe Davies. “It worked in Canada and we are confident it will work here — as long as it is identified at the earliest possible stage.”

USDA: Reused tote bags likely cause of PEDv entry into US

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released a root cause investigation report that identified reuse of contaminated flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), also known as tote bags, as the most likely cause for how the swine enteric coronavirus disease (SECD) viruses -- including porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus and swine delta coronavirus -- entered the United States.
APHIS examined seventeen potential root cause scenarios, looking to see if they meet all four criteria needed to bring the virus from an overseas location to U.S. pig farms, as well as if there was evidence to support the scenario.
While the investigation did not uncover definite proof for any route of entry, a small number of scenarios were deemed plausible, with reuse of FIBCs being determined as the scenario that best fit the criteria for virus entry into the U.S.
FIBCs are commonly used to transport many types of material including sand for flood control, soybeans, pet treats, or almost any kind of bulk material. They are designed to be reused.  It is not a common practice to clean and disinfect these FIBCs between uses in the United States.
Evidence collected as part of the investigation suggests that the FIBCs could be potentially contaminated in their origin country and, upon arrival in the United States, are likely being reused. If a contaminated FIBC was used to transport bulk feed or ingredients to the swine feed mill networks, a small bit of contaminated material could have been mixed into feed destined for many locations and spread the virus onto farms.
APHIS completed follow-up testing in an attempt to provide evidence for this scenario. This follow-up testing further supports the hypothesis that PED virus could easily remain stable through the time needed to travel to the United States and infect pigs.
The first cases of novel SECD were confirmed in the U.S. in April 2013. SECD viruses quickly spread to many swine premises throughout the country, killing 7 million piglets within the first year and causing tremendous hardship for many American pork producers. APHIS, the states, and the swine industry have worked jointly to slow the spread of these diseases, including enhancing biosecurity practices.  APHIS also issued a federal order on June 5, 2014 requiring the reporting of SECD cases to assist with tracking and understanding these viruses. The number of new cases has dropped dramatically in the past year.

Record pig numbers demonstrate resilience after PEDv

Two years ago, we were continually reading and reporting about the latest cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus in the United States. The virus, which caused widespread losses in the U.S. pig industry after first entering the United States in 2013, has sure received a lot less attention in recent months, but a look at the September 25 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report proves that PED virus needs to be brought to people’s attention once again.
Only this time, the focus isn’t on how the virus is causing so much turmoil for pig producers, but rather on patting the North American pig industry on the back for collaborating so well and helping one another rebound from those losses.
Actually, the word “rebound” is an understatement when describing this resilience. U.S pig producers set a pair of records on September 1. The U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on that date was nearly 6.4 million head, a 4 percent improvement when compared to the same date in 2014, and the highest number ever recorded since USDA began preparing the report in 1988.
It is a similar story with the market hog inventory, which at 62.4 million head is up 4 percent from the previous year and again the highest number on record.
“We’re really talking about a continuation of the gradual expansion of production following the recovery in inventories from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,” Shayle Shagam, USDA livestock analyst, said during a USDA Radio News report.
The industry – both in the U.S. and Canada  – did well in identifying the virus, stepping up biosecurity efforts, learning about immunity in herds, and focusing on issues with feed that may add to the risk of the virus spreading throughout the industry. Some people even called the heightened communication and cooperation at the time “unprecedented.”
Some of the increase in pig production does need to be credited to farmers and pork companies expanding their herds as they took advantage of lower feed prices, but the bulk of the credit in my book goes to those who sought information about the mysterious virus, gained and shared that information, and put what was learned into practice.

UK mulls making PEDv a notifiable disease

The U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a month-long dialogue to determine whether porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus should become a notifiable disease.
According to the National Pig Association (NPA), if the effort to make PED virus a notifiable disease is successful, it would fall under a new category of disease, which the NPA refers to as “lightweight notifiable” because there will be no statutory movement controls, no compulsory slaughter and no blocks on exports.
If U.K. officials make PED virus a lightweight notifiable disease, a pig producer and the producer’s veterinarian would be legally obligated to inform the U.K. Animal and Plant Health Agency in the event of a suspected case. If the tests prove positive for PED virus, the agency will inform Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Pork in confidence, so a package of support measures can be put in place for the affected farm, as well as its neighbors and at-risk contacts.
Thoughts on the matter can be shared on the DEFRA dialogue page. Comments can be shared throughout August.
 A contingency plan for the U.K. pig industry was completed in February in preparation for a possible outbreak of the virus. However, the plan is a living document that was to change as the PED virus situation changed.

5 tips to prevent PEDv from World Pork Expo

“While we don’t really know how [the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus] got here, we do have a pretty good idea how it’s moving around — contaminated livestock trailers,” said Dr. Paul Thomas, AMVC, at the 2015 World Pork Expo.
A number of temperature and time combinations are effective at inactivating coronaviruses, including the PED virus, explained Thomas. Disinfectants commonly used in swine production, and the concentrations they are used at, are also effective. However, the effectiveness of both of these can be reduced by factors common to livestock trailers: the presence of feces and reduced temperatures.
Dr. Thomas offered these tips to prevent a PED virus outbreak:

"Excellent internal biosecurity is critical to shut down outbreaks and keep the PED virus from coming back," said Dr. Paul Thomas at the World Pork Expo. 


• All livestock trailers must be washed, disinfected and baked between loads of animals.
• In the presence of feces, the PED virus must be heated to 160F to inactivate the virus.
• You should assume there are still feces in a cleaned trailer.
• When a trailer arrives at your farm, inspect it to ensure it is being properly cleaned.
• Empower employees to turn away improperly-cleaned trailers.
  
“You have to do everything 100 percent." said Thomas. "Excellent internal biosecurity is critical to shut down outbreaks and keep the PED virus from coming back."
These recommendations are consistent with today’s best practices for trailer decontamination and can be immediately implemented by transporters and pork producers.

PEDv, TGE, porcine rotavirus vaccine developed in China

China's first domestically-developed triple vaccine for swine is now available to farmers in Heilongjiang province, according to an announcement from the Harbin Institute of Veterinary Medicine under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The live vaccine protects against three common diseases afflicting hog farms across north China: porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE), porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus, and porcine rotavirus (G-type).
Feng Li, head of the research team that developed the vaccine, noted that the foundations of this breakthrough were laid with research dating back to the 1970s. If the vaccine is adopted widely, its economic impact on China's domestic pork industry is estimated to be a CNY30 billion (US$4.9 billion) annual boost, according to a report provided by Smart Agriculture Analytics.
According to the director of the Harbin Institute of Veterenary Medicine, Bu Zhigao, PED virus swept across north China in 2010, with mortality rates exceeding 80 percent of the piglet population under 7 days old. The disease spread across Asia and reached North America in April 2013, reaching mortality rates of near 100 percent among piglets under 10 days old. In March 2014, a U.S.-developed RNA-based vaccine hit the market, but it has not been well-received by the industry in China.

Georgia has first PEDv confirmation at livestock show

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has reached Georgia for the first time as cases were confirmed at a livestock show.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has reported the state’s first known cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. Results from two samples from pigs at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show held February 18-21, tested positive for PED virus on February 27.
  GDA immediately responded with biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the disease. The locations of where the positive samples came from have been visited and animal movement has been controlled.
  GDA stated it is working closely with other animal industry partners to provide information about biosecurity, disease prevention and control. The agency also is encouraging people to limit travel and commingling with other swine associated events or personnel.
  PED virus was first confirmed in the United States in May 2013. To date, PED virus is estimated to have killed up to eight million young pigs across the nation. With the confirmation of PED virus in Georgia, 33 states have reported cases of the virus that can have up to a 100 percent mortality rate in piglets. Prior to the discovery of PED virus in Georgia, Hawaii became the newest state to report an outbreak of PED virus, having reported the virus reached the state in November 2014.

Suidae Health and Production, ISU awarded Zoetis PEDv grants

Zoetis has awarded research grants to Suidae Health and Production and to Iowa State University (ISU) to discover solutions that can help improve control of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus in breeding and farrowing herds.
“We were interested in proposals that help discover novel approaches for optimizing the immune response of sows and gilts to help control PEDv,” said Steve Sornsen, DVM, MS, senior director, Veterinary Business Solutions, Zoetis. “We’re pleased to collaborate with well-experienced veterinarians representing academic and production interests. The outcome of these projects should provide insights into new PEDv control methods that can be incorporated into current production systems for the industry.”
The two proposals were selected by a cross-functional group of Zoetis colleagues among a group of eight finalists. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2015.
Suidae Health and Production, a swine veterinary practice with three locations across Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, will use its grant in the amount of $98,000 to study the efficacy of vaccination in boosting the immune response to PED virus in both naïve sows and previously exposed sows. Results will be compared to naïve sows that receive a placebo.
“I’m very excited to serve the swine community with research and development efforts to help control PEDv,” said Trevor Schwartz, DVM, Suidae Health and Production. “I’m thankful for Zoetis’ commitment to increasing the information available to veterinarians and producers.”
The $59,000 grant awarded to ISU extends the partnership between school researchers and Zoetis on multiple projects related to PED virus management.
“Losses in breeding herds chronically affected by PEDv can be devastating,” said Derald Holtkamp, DVM, MS, assistant professor, ISU. “The source of the problem in these chronically affected herds appears to be an imbalance between immunity passed onto the piglets and the viral load of PEDv in the environment.”
University researchers will measure the effectiveness of the conditionally licensed PED vaccine  from Zoetis in helping to reduce PED virus incidence on chronically affected breeding farms by studying the effect of the killed vaccine on immunological parameters in terms of both sow and colostral immunity.
“Our goal is to then determine if we can measure and predict PEDv immunity and if that immunity improves productivity in a chronically affected breeding herd,” added Chris Rademacher, DVM, swine extension veterinarian, ISU.
Cases of PED virus have been confirmed in at least 33 states, and about 30 percent of farms report a reoccurrence within a year of an initial outbreak. After reaching 12-month lows for new cases of PED virus in the middle of October 2014, reports of new cases increased in December as colder weather moved in.

UK PEDv contingency plan prepared

A contingency plan for the pig industry, to be activated should porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus arrive in the U.K., has now been completed. However, the plan is a living document and will change as the situation changes.
This is just the first of many outcomes of the work under way which is being collated by British Pig Executive (BPEX) veterinary team manager Martin Smith.
A database is being created so if the disease does hit the U.K., information of all sorts can be captured and used to tackle it. This ties in with a questionnaire which will be asking about the type of farming system and the outbreak of the disease.
“This will be vital in gathering the information we need for the epidemiology of PEDv and how it behaves under different conditions,” said Smith. “We also have some standard procedures which are in the pipeline and are due to be published in the next couple of months. They will probably be published as individual sheets because they too will change according to the conditions.”
A disease charter, based on that created for swine dysentery, has been completed and this will all be online as part of the Pig Hub.
“Producers will sign in and register as part of the Charter so information gathered can be used to combat the disease and notify producers of outbreaks occurring near them,” said Smith.
“Phase two will be to link it in with vets, feed companies and the allied industry so they are aware that one of the units in an area has a problem. We are hoping to have this completed by late spring.”
The diagnostic testing, funded by BPEX, is already in place and this is being extended to any diarrhea sample so they will be routinely checked for PED virus.
“In the early stages it can be difficult to diagnose PEDv as it is similar to a number of other diseases,” Smith said.
“We have achieved a lot in quite a short time but there is still much more to be done. All this work will be valuable in fighting all exotic and emerging disease, not just PEDv.”

Irish pig industry agrees to PEDv prevention measures

Ireland’s National Pig Health Council (NPHC) has adopted a list of measures to limit the risk of the entry of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus into the country. The measures were adopted following a recent NPHC meeting.
According to National Pig Health Council Chairman Pat Kirwan, the PED virus prevention measures include: 


• An initial three-month voluntary ban on the importation of live pigs or semen, including for shows and specialist breeds
• An initial three-month ban on the export of live pigs for slaughter to infected countries
• An initial three-month voluntary ban on the sale of plasma protein/blood plasma products or products containing these substances.
• A recommendation that all staff returning to work after the Christmas break must prove that they have been back in the country for at least three days. These staff should also be provided with new clothing and foot ware.
• Biosecurity on farms and feed mills to be increased.
The prevention plan follows the news that PED virus has entered Europe.
“Porcine epidemic diarrhea caused enormous losses on farms in America, Canada and Mexico in 2014 killing millions of pigs and leaving farm families devastated,” said Irish Farmers’ Association Pigs Committee Chairman Pat O’Flaherty. “The disease has now been confirmed in the EU and it is spreading fast in the cold weather. Although the disease carried no public health importance, should it enter Irish farms, our industry will be completely decimated.
“Although the industry is taking a proactive stance in terms of trying to protect itself, we are very reliant on the government taking an active role in this also. We are calling on [Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine] to set up a rapid response unit and to put a contingency plan in place that can be followed in the event of an outbreak. There are 10,000 jobs and one billion Euros worth of an industry dependent on it.”

PED virus discovered at sow unit in Ukraine

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has spread to Europe, with the virus being discovered in the Ukraine. It was discovered in mid-Ukraine by internationally-known British vet Dr John Carr, who has now had the strain sequenced in Britain to confirm his suspicion that it is the virulent Asian-American strain, and not the European strain.
Dr. Carr cites a well-run commercial 5,000-sow unit in Ukraine where 
30,000 piglets died over a matter of weeks, equivalent to the loss of six weaned pigs per sow per year. He warns that with such high mortality, it is essential to be concerned for the mental health of all stockpeople when a unit breaks down with Asian-American PED virus.
The disease is extremely infectious — a thimbleful of manure from an infected pig unit is sufficient to infect the entire British pig population.
It is impossible to guarantee Asian-American PED virus will not arrive in Britain on a traveller’s shoes or clothes, or on the wheels of a lorry, says the National Pig Association. Therefore all pig-keepers must consider themselves personally responsible for ensuring it does not get onto their own farm.
Producers should pay special attention to vehicle biosecurity. In particular no pig lorry should be allowed onto any pig farm unless it has previously been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, says NPA.
Carr’s worry now is that the highly-infectious disease could easily spread to the European Union. He stresses it is essential that no live pigs are imported into the United Kingdom from countries with PED virus and he warns that all pig producers should introduce impeccable transport biosecurity routines.
The European Food Safety Authority has confirmed the disease has no zoonotic capacity and is therefore harmless to humans. But in the United States it has wiped out over a tenth of the pig population in the past two years, causing up to 100 percent mortality in piglets on infected pig farms.
However, the Canadian pig industry has demonstrated it is possible to control the spread of PED virus if the disease is identified quickly and no movements on or off the infected unit are allowed by the farmer concerned. Working on the Canadian model of early identification and total industry cooperation, the English Pig Health and Welfare Council has been formulating a contingency plan since April and this is due to be rolled out soon.
Meanwhile, the statutory pig levy paid by English pig-keepers is funding free testing of diarrhoea samples at government animal health laboratories, to help ensure the disease is picked up promptly if it arrives on a British pig farm.

PEDv may spread to Australia if trade rules relaxed, group says

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  Australian Pork Limited fears PED virus could reach the country if trade rules are relaxed for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Australian Pork Limited (APL) is worried that the health of Australian pigs may be compromised if its government begins to accept fresh pork from the United States under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, which is currently being negotiated.
  Presently, Australia currently imports pork for smallgoods, such as bacon, but fresh pork cuts from the U.S. are not allowed because they can carry diseases such as porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus, which has killed millions of piglets in the U.S. since it was first discovered in the country in 2013.
  APL spokeswoman Deb Kerr said the producer-owned organization that supports and promotes the Australian pork industry is worried that the Australian government is getting pressure from the U.S. to relax its biosecurity protocols.
  "Our pig herd is a closed herd, and if those sorts of diseases got into Australia, then it could absolutely devastate our herd in Australia," she said.
  Kerr said she also feels like Australia’s biosecurity protocols are also being targeted by European countries.
  "These protocols or these rules, if you like, are in place because of science. Science has told us that they are appropriate and that they are robust and we support the Australian government's position on that," said Kerr.

Danes want to stop feeding plasma to pigs

Denmark’s pig research center VSP and national feed association Dakofo have agreed to recommend that porcine blood plasma is phased out as an ingredient in Danish pig feeds during 2015, to rule out any possibility that it could introduce porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus.
Their recommendation follows a report from the European Food Safety Agency on the prevalence of PED virus in the European Union and other parts of the world. According to this report, highly efficient spray drying of the blood plasma should inactivate any traces of PED virus present in it. However, the agency points to variations in the spray drying process and suggests that PED virus infection being transmitted through blood plasma cannot be excluded, even if such occurrences are extremely rare.
As from next year, say the Danes, the only use of porcine blood plasma in pig feeds should be where the farmer considers it essential for the intestinal health of his weaned pigs and where the plasma has been spray-dried in accordance with EU rules on imports from third countries -- meaning the process is carried out at a temperature of at least 80 C and there have been a minimum of six weeks of storage at no more than 8 percent humidity.

IPPE offers free educational programs to attendees

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is offering a variety of free education programs to attendees. The programs will be held in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, January 27 – 29, 2015.
These programs will cover a wide array of education sessions on pressing meat and poultry issues, including food safety, worker safety, dietary guidelines, new products and export and international issues.
The Pork 101 Workshop will cover quality and consistency issues in the pork industry, providing insight on value differences in swine, pork carcasses, pork primals and processed pork products due to quality variation, while the Biosecurity: PEDv and Foot & Mouth Disease program (Spanish translated) will discuss the biosecurity challenges posed by the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus and Foot & Mouth disease and provide practical take-a-ways for maintaining a healthy herd. The Pork Tech Theater program will discuss the latest developments in the international pig industry, addressing topics such as group housing of pregnant sows, a PED virus research update and a future without antibiotics.
The Market Intelligence Forum will identify key issues facing the poultry industry and provide understanding into how domestic and international poultry industries are positioned to move forward in 2015, while the U.S. – EU Free Trade Negotiations program will examine the current state of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations between the United States and the European Union and the potential impact of a successful or unsuccessful outcome on both European and American farmers and producers. The Export& International Issues in the Meat and Poultry Industries sessions will also cover key topics to help businesses succeed in the international market.
The Antibiotic Use in the Meat and Poultry Industry sessions will give attendees a scientific look at the complexities of antibiotic use in the meat and poultry industry, while the Sanitary Design program will take some of the key lessons from ready-to-eat (RTE) sanitation best practices and teach attendees how to apply them in a raw/fresh setting.
The Worker Safety Considerations: Equipment Design, Installation & Operation sessions will review manufacturer design considerations, new equipment installation and pre-startup safety procedures, machine guarding, lock out and other important safety issues, while the Worker Safety & HR Issues for the Meat and Poultry Industry program will address key issues facing the industry, including employee retention and rising health care and insurance costs, as well as topics related to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the regulatory environment.
The Validation Workshop program will feature a practical discussion of validation best practices, including discussions related to implementation and application, while the Best New Products sessions will highlight product development and new products of 2015. 
The
Dietary Guidelines Update and FDA Labeling Update
 forum will review how potential government proposals may impact the health profile and marketing of meat and poultry products.

SaskPork to get $150,000 for PEDv biosecurity program

The Canadian federal and Saskatchewan provincial governments announced $150,000 in funding for the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board (SaskPork) to deliver a new phase in the Saskatchewan Swine Biosecurity Program. This phase aims to prevent the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus during transport of Saskatchewan hogs.
This investment provides funding for truck wash and transport audits performed by certified veterinarians, and provides education on transport biosecurity. As well, producers can access funding for follow-up veterinary visits to assess biosecurity protocols that were implemented during previous phases of the program. Eligible producers will receive up to $700 for truck wash and transport audits, and up to $300 for a follow-up veterinarian visit.
Over $1 million has been committed for PED virus prevention, surveillance and response through the swine biosecurity programs introduced under Growing Forward 1 in 2012 and under Growing Forward 2 in early 2014.
PED virus was first confirmed in Canada in January 2014, but to date, there have been no confirmed cases of PED virus in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Swine Biosecurity Program is funded in part through Growing Forward 2, a cost-shared partnership between federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments designed to support an innovative, competitive and profitable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

PED virus spreads into Hawaii

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has spread into Hawaii, according to the state’s department of agriculture. The deadly swine virus has affected herds in 32 states to date, but this is the first time PED virus has gone outside of the continental states.
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) announced on November 20 it had issued a quarantine order stopping the movement of pigs on Oahu after an outbreak of PED virus, was confirmed on a farm in Waianae Valley. PED virus causes significant sickness in swine and causes high mortality in piglets.
The farm last week called HDOA’s Animal Disease Control Branch to report many cases of diarrhea among their swine. State veterinarians took samples from the farm and sent them to the Kansas State University (KSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which confirmed that the pigs had been infected with PED virus.


Quarantine ordered to contain PEDv outbreak
Acting State Veterinarian Dr. Isaac Maeda issued a quarantine order on the farm to contain the outbreak and also to stop the movement of pigs on the west side of Oahu. No swine shall be moved east past Nanakuli from Makaha, Waianae and Nanakuli Valley. The order also restricts movement of swine from Oahu to neighbor islands.
Disease control measures have been instituted on the farm, which has a total of about 150 pigs. About 25 percent of the pigs (mainly piglets) died. However, it appears that the remaining pigs are recovering and no deaths have occurred on the farm since the weekend. It is not known at this point how the virus may have come to Hawaii; however, the farm did not import any swine.
“Our current focus is to contain the virus and prevent its spread on Oahu,” said Maeda. “We will also survey other swine operations and try to determine if the virus has spread.”
PED virus was first confirmed in the U.S. in May 2013. To date, PED virus is estimated to have killed up to eight million young pigs.
In July 2014, HDOA increased swine import requirements to help prevent the entry of swine infected with PED virus into Hawaii. This included exclusion of swine from premises with PED virus and negative tests for PED virus prior to shipping.
Statewide there are about 230 pig farms – 70 of which are on Oahu. Most are small operations.

Formaldehyde key to in-feed PEDv control

New research performed at Kansas State University (KSU) suggests that a commercial formaldehyde and organic acid blend product may offer the most effective means of controlling porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus in swine feed.
Dr. Kurt Richardson, Anitox pathogen specialist and chief scientific officer, explained: “This research builds on earlier data published by Pipestone Veterinary Clinic and South Dakota State University, which identified PEDv-contaminated complete feed as a vehicle for infection of juvenile swine.
“The latest work compared four chemical treatment options: Termin-8, sodium bisulfate, sodium chlorate and organic acids. Feed was treated with the various products individually and then contaminated with PEDv. Kansas State also evaluated the effect of these products in ingredients such as meat and bone meal, blood meal and spray dried animal plasma. Termin-8 offered the highest level of control in the complete ration and in all three feed ingredients throughout the 42 day period of the trial.”
Richardson explained that this work is important as it offers producers a critical control point in the battle against PED virus.
“By selecting feed treated with a high-performance formaldehyde pathogen control solution such as Termin-8, producers can be confident they’re not introducing PEDv to their animals through rations,” he said.

PEDv vigilance a must as cooler weather arrives in US, Canada

• The spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has slowed down significantly over the warmer, summer months, however, pig industry leaders are warning that pig producers in the United States and Canada not be negligent with their biosecurity efforts as the damper, cooler months arrive.
  In Manitoba alone, two new cases were discovered in the past two weeks, and according to Brad Marceniuk of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the amount of new cases that could be seen this fall in other Canadian provinces continues to be unknown.
  Stefani Garbacik, extension agent from Wayne County, North Carolina, says that the advent of fall brings new risks, as the weather conditions seem to be the ideal time for the virus to spread. She advises that producers not only take necessary steps to assure that herds are free of PED virus, but also that they remain free of PED virus. Those steps include testing all replacement animals, testing the new animals about 30 days after they have commingled with sows, conducting PCR testing of feces, conducting oral fluid testing and bleeding 30 gilts a month for blood testing for four consecutive months.
  PED virus and porcine delta coronavirus are believed to have killed about 8 million piglets in the U.S. since the viruses were discovered in the U.S. in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In response to the virus, pork producers have been improving their biosecurity efforts. Aiding in the battle against PED virus are two PED virus vaccines that have gained approval from the USDA. Those vaccines have been produced by Harrisvaccines and Zoetis.

Research: Risk management strategies vital to combat PEDv

Encouraging new research from Pipestone Veterinary Services appears in BMC Veterinary Research which suggests it may be possible to secure feed against the deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. The study says “preliminary evidence that a means to ‘biosecure’ feed against a globally significant virus may be possible.”
“Every day pork producers and consumers feel the impact of PED virus,” said Daryl Schraad, Kemin president of the animal nutrition and health division in North America. “Study findings such as those discovered by Pipestone Veterinary Services are needed to lessen the devastation of this virus.”
Lead author of the study, Dr. Scott Dee, director of research at Pipestone Veterinary Services, noted, “Now more than ever, sound science and public/private partnerships are needed to provide the most effective options for risk management in this challenging situation.”
Kemin funded the research study at the request of Pipestone Veterinary Services and has marketed Sal CURB, the product used in the study, for nearly 20 years. Sal CURB is a formaldehyde blended product designed to maintain Salmonella-negative status of complete feeds and feed ingredients for up to 21 days. Formaldehyde is an ingredient regulated by the FDA as an antimicrobial and can be used as part of a comprehensive risk management program.

North American pork industry leaders share TPP, PEDv concerns

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) recently hosted a meeting of North American pork industry leaders, finding several areas of common interest and concern, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. CPC hosted leaders from the United States’ National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and Mexican pork producer organization Confederación de Porcicultores Mexicanos (CPM).
The meeting took place in Montreal.
"It is quite clear to me from our discussions that pork farmers from all across North America share the same abiding commitment to providing consumers a nutritious, safe and affordable food supply", said Jean-Guy Vincent, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council. “I’m pleased that we have a common interest and commitment to trade negotiations such as TPP and recognize that maintaining pork markets and opening up new markets to pork is important to the North American hog industry.”
Multi-national commitment to prevent resurgence of PED virus
All three countries have had its troubles with PED virus since it was first discovered in the U.S. in 2013, although the spread of the deadly virus has slowed in recent months.
 “We agreed that herd health is a critical component to the success of the industry and I’m pleased that we have a common interest in preventing a resurgence of PEDv as well as a need to keep this virus in control,” said Vincent.
Trans-Pacific Partnership
The Mexican, U.S. and Canadian producer representatives also discussed several others areas of common interest including the potential for Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to open up additional export opportunities for the North American pork industry.
Key to those wishes shared by the three North American countries is the elimination of Japan’s gate price and tariffs on pork products.
“The single most important commercial issue before our producers is the elimination of the gate price in Japan and all tariffs on pork in every TPP nation,” said Howard Hill, President of NPPC. “We appreciate the importance of working together with our colleagues in the North American pork industry to attain these objectives.”
José Cervera, CPM’s treasurer and leader of the Mexican delegation, added: “The Mexican pork industry has made tremendous progress towards achieving the international health status which, together with TPP and other trade agreements, allows us to participate in the rapidly growing international pork market.”