Swine in Minnesota

Microbiome studies in swine systems: Challenges and opportunities (Part 1)

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.

This week, we are sharing part 1 of a report on the microbiome in swine production, by Dr. Andres Gomez.

Key Points

Microbiome and more specifically the bacteria residing in the gut play multiple roles related with nutrition and health.
The study of swine gut bacteria is still in its early stages, and the field contains many possibilities exciting possibilities.
Funding and microbiome classification are two of the most important barriers to overcome in order to gain insight into the complex field of swine gut bacteria.

Effect of strain-specific maternally-derived antibodies on influenza A virus infection dynamics in nursery pigs

A new scientific article from the Torremorell lab, about the influence of maternal antibodies on influenza dynamics was published in PLoS ONE.

The study followed 10 cohorts of nursery piglets form a single influenza-positive sow farm and compared influenza dynamics based on the vaccination status of the dam.

Understanding PRRSV Infection Dynamics in Growing Pigs in Control and Elimination Programs

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.

This week we are sharing a report by Dr. Jose Angulo regarding PRRS infection dynamics in growing pigs.

Key Points

Growing pigs play an important role in regional PRRSV spread.
There was an association between prevalence of PRRSV infection in growing pig sites and risk of outbreaks in sow farms.
Learning about PRRSV infection dynamics in growing pigs and associated risk factors should help manage pig flows to minimize PRRSV incidence and /or risk of dissemination.

A new diagnostic test to differentiate rotavirus subtypes

In this paper published in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, PhD-candidate Talita Resende from Dr. Vannucci’s lab, shares a novel diagnostic technique to detect various rotavirus species using newly developed markers.

Assessing internal personnel movements in swine farms to help direct PRRS control and elimination efforts

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.

This week, we are sharing the preliminary results of a study conducted by Dr. Andreia Arruda at Ohio State University.

Key points

Newly developed beacon-sensing technology can be used to better understand within-farm people movement; and particularly better quantify potentially “risky” movements in PRRS positive herds during control/ elimination efforts.
Preliminary data analysis showed that an increase in commonly referred to “risky” movements (e.g. from loading areas/ nurseries to other parts of the farm) was associated with a decrease in number of pigs weaned per sow; and an increase in pre-weaning mortality.