Publications – Swine in Minnesota

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.

Effect of influenza A virus sow vaccination on infection in pigs at weaning: A prospective longitudinal study

Dr. Chamba Pardo and colleagues from the University of Minnesota share results of the implementation of sow vaccination to control influenza infections in pigs at weaning through a special issue article published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

Highlights

Sow vaccination against IAV was effective at reducing the number of infected groups of pigs at weaning, and the number of positive nasal swab pools within a group.
Both prefarrow or whole herd vaccination protocols, and use of commercial or autogenous inactivated vaccines, yielded significant and similar reduction of IAV infections in pigs at weaning.
Sow vaccination can help control IAV infections in pigs at weaning and, thus, minimize transmission to growing pigs and other farms.

Exploring heterologous prime-boost vaccination approaches to enhance influenza control in pigs

Chong Li and colleagues from the University of Minnesota provide new insights for the potential use of the heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy to control swine infuenza A virus (IAV) infection in pigs by bringing us a research article published in Veterinary Research.

Highlights

Heterologous prime-boost vaccination has the potential to deal with diverse IAV infection in multiple animal models.
Pigs in the heterologous prime-boost vaccination group had more favorable outcomes consistent with a better response against virus challenge (H1N1 and H3N2 IAV) than non-vaccinated pigs.
Similarly, a multivalent heterologous inactivated vaccine boost to pigs following a single live attenuated IAV vaccine (LAIV) administration was also beneficial.
More studies are still needed to validate the concept of heterologous prime-boost to control IAV under feld conditions.

Contrasting animal movement and spatial connectivity networks in shaping transmission pathways of a genetically diverse virus

Researchers VanderWaal, Paploski, Makau and Corzo at the University of Minnesota provide new insights into how PRRSv spreads between farms and the importance of data sharing in this research article published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine.

Highlights

The study combined three years of PRRSv genetic data with network analysis to look at the dynamics of between-farm spread of PRRSv.
Data from a subset of the MSHMP farms was used and included farm location, animal movements between farms, and any PRRSv sequence recovered those farms.
The researchers identified between-farm infection chains and elucidated types of contact that were most associated with PRRSv transmission.
Results showed that animal movements, not local area spread, play a dominant role in shaping transmission pathways.
Local area spread ( within a 5 km area) also contributed to the PRRSv transmission pathway, though to a much lesser extent than animal movements.

Implications for COVID-19?

Molecular geneticists and epidemiologists perform similar work for the human population, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow this link to learn how researchers trace the routes the virus has traveled across the world in an attempt to find out how quickly and easily SARS-CoV-2 spreads using globally shared data.

PCR detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in piglet processing fluids in the event of a clinical respiratory disease outbreak

Dr. Vilalta and collaborators from the University of Minnesota provide new insights for the potential use that processing fluid (PF) may have to detect M. hyopneumoniae in breeding farms by bringing us a clinical case published in VetRecord Case Reports.

Highlights

Genetic material of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae from PF was quantified by real-time PCR.
The origin of M. hyopneumoniae genetic material detected in PF needs to be clarified.
Processing fluids are a potential sample to detect M. hyopneumoniae in breeding herds.