November 2019 – Swine in Minnesota

Use of Whole Genome Sequencing during a PRRSv outbreak investigation

We hope our US readers had a great Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones. We are grateful that all of you keep reading us week after week and we hope we can continue providing you with valuable content for a long time!

This week, Drs. Sunil Mor and Albert Rovira from the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory explain how we can use whole genome sequencing during a PRRS outbreak investigation.

Key Points

Viral recombination is documented in PRRSv
Whole Genome Sequencing can provide the detailed information to better understand recombination and PRRSv dynamics

Detection of Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae in oral fluids and correlation with pig lameness scores

In this newly released article from the MycoLab in the Veterinary Microbiology journal, Dr. David Pillman working with Dr. Maria Pieters shares his results regarding detection of two mycoplasma species and how this was correlated with lameness scores in nursery and finishing pigs.

Key points

M. hyorhinis was frequently detected in oral fluids in nursery and finisher herds
High detection of M. hyosynoviae in oral fluids was observed in finisher herds.
Proportion of lame pigs and M. hyosynoviae detection in oral fluids were correlated.

Can 2 strains of PRRSv be highly homologous but have distinct virulence?

Key points

Two novel HP-PRRSV variants (XJ17-5 and JSTZ1712-12) that have the new genetic feature of 150-amino-acid deletion in nsp2 were identified.
Even though XJ17-5 and JSTZ1712-12 isolates share high genomic homology, they had distinct pathogenicity for piglets.
Fragment comparisons identified 34 amino acid differences between the two isolates which might be related to distinct virulence.

A webinar on the changing face of ileitis

Have you registered yet? This Thursday at 1pm CST, Dr. Fabio Vannucci from the University of Minnesota, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Dr. Nathan Winkelman, current AASV president will be discussing what is new in the world of swine ileitis.

Best of Leman 2019 #1: D. Olsen – Batch farrowing in large farms

We are kicking off this series with a presentation from Dr. Daryl Olsen from AMVC regarding batch farrowing in large farms and the reasons why you may want to implement it. We hope you enjoy it!