August 2020 – Swine in Minnesota

PRRS 2018-2020 Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) by State

This is our Friday rubric: every week a new Science Page from the Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project. The previous editions of the science page are available on our website.

Dr. Kikuti and colleagues from the University of Minnesota compare PRRS 2018-20 EWMA patterns of different States.

Keypoints

We continue to observe different EWMA patterns across states.
Even though an overall higher incidence in colder months is observed, sporadic cases in warmer months were detected throughout the states.

Evaluation of viral RNA extraction methods to detect PRRSV and IAV from used commercial air filters

Today, we are happy to share a new publication! Dr. Nirmala and colleagues from the University of Minnesota report on a viral RNA extraction method that can be used to detect both the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and influenza A virus (IAV) from used farm air filters. This work is published in the Journal of Aerosol Science. Take a look at it!

Highlights

Extracting RNA using TRIzol reagent from filter material ground with liquid nitrogen can be used to detect PRRSV and IAV from air filters.
IAV was detected in more filters than PRRSV, though PRRSV could be detected in used filters from farms with PRRSV negative status at the time of filter removal.
The obtained results shows likely evidence of between farm aerosol spread and the methods derived from this study open up avenues to further investigate regional airborne transmission and risk of virus introduction into farms.

PRRS EWMA Analysis Review

This is our Friday rubric: every week a new Science Page from the Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project. The previous editions of the science page are available on our website.

Today, Dr. Vilalta and other members of the MSHMP team review the characteristics of the Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) charts for PRRS.

Key Points:

The EWMA chart is a smoothed chart of the percentage of farms that are breaking.
This chart is useful for tracking longitudinal data and for detecting the signals that indicate an “event”.

There is a Need for National Influenza Surveillance in Swine

In today’s post, we would like to highlight the value of flu surveillance in swine as well as to acknowledge the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UMN-VDL) as a long-standing and committed contributor to the USDA Voluntary Influenza A Virus (IAV) in Swine Surveillance program. Thanks to this surveillance program, the U.S. swine industry has ample information available for analysis and to support influenza-related research, vaccinology and diagnostics.

The objectives of the USDA Voluntary IAV in Swine Surveillance program are:

Monitor genetic evolution of endemic influenza in swine to better understand endemic and emerging influenza virus ecology.
Make available influenza isolates for research and to establish an objective database for genetic analysis of these isolates and related information.
Select proper isolates for the development of relevant diagnostic reagents, updating diagnostic assays, and vaccine seedstock products.

Meet the Leman Keynote Speakers!

The full Allen D. Leman Swine Conference program details are now available! Check here the programs for Monday, September 21 and Tuesday, September 22. You can link to the preconference program too.

Enjoy listening to our keynote lecturers! Fom the impacts of COVID-19 on the swine industry to strategies designed to capture value from the farm to the table. An event not to be missed! Register by August 30 for a discounted rate.