Innovative test designed to detect swine flu virus subtypes

Pork producers now have access to a comprehensive diagnostic kit designed to test production animals for swine influenza virus (SIV) subtypes with the launch of the VetMAX™-Gold SIV Subtyping Kit, the industry’s only USDA-approved, real-time PCR test of its kind.

Swine have a unique role in the transmission of influenza viruses among species. They are the only animal raised in abundance that can both be infected by and transmit virus to other pigs. When housed in close contact, the pig can serve as a biological mixing vessel, where influenza genes from any susceptible species can combine and undergo re-assortment within the animal to emerge as a new subtype. The complexity of swine influenza diagnostics requires a robust molecular subtyping solution for reliable differentiation of the swine H and N subtypes, providing information used to monitor and control the disease.

When used in combination with MagMAX™ Pathogen RNA/DNA Kit and VetMAX-Gold SIV Detection Kit, the VetMAX-Gold SIV Subtyping Kit provides veterinary diagnostic laboratories with a complete screening and subtyping solution that is both rapid and cost-effective. The SIV Detection Kit provides a detection rate of more than 95 percent in positive samples, and can return results in less than a day.

Counted among the top three respiratory health challenges in production animals, SIV is highly contagious, causing fever, lethargy and significant weight loss, resulting in economic loss to producers. Hog production companies have previously estimated the cost of the disease to range from $3.23¹ to $10.31² per pig as a result of reduced performance or mortality.

Thermo Fisher now offers five USDA-licensed molecular diagnostic tests for customers, more than any other company in the animal health space. Sold under the VetMAX™-Gold name, they include: BVDV PI Detection Kit, SIV Detection Kit, SIV Subtyping Kit, Trich Detection Kit and the AIV Detection Kit.

¹ Dykhuis Haden C., T. Painter, T. Fangman, and D. Holtkamp. Assessing production parameters and economic impact of swine influenza, PRRS and Mycoplasma hyopneimoniae on finishing pigs in a large production system. Proceedings 2012 AASV Annual Meeting. 75-76.
² Donovan, T.S. Influenza isolate selection methodology for timely autogenous vaccine use. Proceedings 2008 Amer Assoc Swine Vet Conf. 557-561.

Swine influenza in UK, Ireland may be higher than expected

The incidence of swine influenza in pig herds in the UK and Ireland could be higher than expected if the results of a recent survey are replicated across the national herds in these countries, according to Brian Rice, veterinary adviser at Merial Animal Health.
Routine diagnostic blood testing in these countries indicated most herds tested were positive for swine flu. “More than 70 percent of herds tested in Great Britain had one or more pigs that tested positive, while this figure increased to over 90 percent in Ireland," said Rice. "Historically, and with no vaccine available, the industry has tended to be reactive to swine influenza, managing outbreaks as they arose, but more and more producers are now realizing the benefits of vaccinating against the disease."
Previous research carried out in 2008–2009 by the Royal Veterinary College and the COSI Consortium across a broader sample of around 17 percent of the English herd showed that nearly six in 10 farms (59 percent) had pigs that were positive for one of the strains of swine influenza. “Many people may be surprised by just how widespread the disease is, but the real question is how they plan to mitigate the potential risks posed by swine influenza to the productivity of their herds,” said Rice.
According to Merial, the optimal route is for producers to investigate their herds' swine influenza status and put in place appropriate preventative measures.

Harrisvaccines develops H3N2v swine vaccine

Iowa-based Harrisvaccines has developed a vaccine for the H3N2 variant strain of swine flu and, using the company's patented RNA Particle technology, can produce the vaccine within four weeks without culturing the live virus.
Currently, the company has pending U.S. Department of Agriculture licensure for the technology. “We have the ability to produce a swine vaccine for the H3N2 variant strain and are prepared to work with federal officials to make it available should the situation warrant,” said D.L. Harris, DVM, Ph.D., founder and president of Harrisvaccines. “Our patented RNA Particle platform allows for rapid vaccine response to situations such as we saw in the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus and today with the H3N2 variant strain that is crossing from pigs to humans.
"Our technology is so advanced that the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics did not have a ‘box’ to put us in. Now that we have complied with all the necessary testing and paperwork, we are still waiting to be regulated and fully bring this technology to the market.”

Belarus restricts Russian pork imports

Belarus' Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced temporary restrictions on imports of pork and pork products from Russia in early November, according to the BelTA news agency.
The restrictions have been introduced because of swine fever in Russia, said a Ministry official. In July 2009, Belarus announced a similar ban on pork and pork imports from Lithuania, following a report of a case of swine fever at a pig farm in that country's Panevezys region.
Belarusian pork imports fell by US$36 million year-on-year in the first half of 2009.

President Obama urged to save swine industry

The governors of nine key pork-producing states urged President Barack Obama to rescue the industry reeling from high commodity prices and disease scares, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The letter, sent Friday, July 7, urged Obama to buy pork worth an additional $50 million for government nutrition programs, withdraw the ceiling on the amount of surplus product the Agriculture Department can purchase, and expand export markets, primarily to China.
The request was signed by the governors of Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
The swine flu scare has cost pork producers $330 million in profits, the governors said, predicting that losses up to October could top $1 billion and cripple the rural economy.

WHO declares swine flu crisis health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak in North America a "public health emergency of international concern."
The decision means countries around the world will be asked to step up reporting and surveillance of the disease implicated in human deaths in Mexico and at least 20 non-fatal cases in the US. WHO fears the outbreak could spread to other countries and is calling for a coordinated response to contain it.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan made the decision late Saturday after consulting influenza experts during an emergency meeting. She earlier told reporters the outbreak had "pandemic potential." But her agency held off raising its pandemic alert level, citing the need for more information.
"It would be prudent for health officials within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or pneumonia, especially if these occur in months outside the usual peak influenza season," Chan told reporters by telephone from Geneva, where she convened an emergency meeting of influenza experts.
Several Latin American and Asian countries have already started surveillance or screening at airports and other points of entry.
More than 100 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico, WHO says. More than 1,600 people are ill with the symptoms. Some of those who died are confirmed to have a unique flu type that is a combination of bird, pig and human viruses.
US authorities said 20 people were infected with swine flu in California, Texas, New York, Kansas and Ohio All recovered, having had only mild symptoms. Canada has also reported some mild cases.
WHO's emergency committee, called together Saturday for the first time since it was created in 2007, draws on experts from around the world. They may decide the outbreak constitutes an international public health emergency. If so, they will consider whether WHO should recommend travel advisories, trade restrictions or border closures and raise its pandemic alert level.
President Obama said Monday the swine flu outbreak is a "cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert," but is not a "cause for alarm," according to a story from CNN.
He added the federal government is closely monitoring the situation and declared a public health emergency as a "precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively."