Podcasts are perfect for summer! We are presenting you with a new series on swine influenza from “At The Meeting… Honoring Dr. Bob Morrison in collaboration with SwineCast.
In this final episode, Dr. Montserrat Torremorell (University of Minnesota), Dr. Amy Vincent (USDA Agricultural Research Service), Dr. Christa Goodell (Boehringer Ingelheim), Dr. Gordon Spronk (Pipestone Veterinary Services), and Dr. Tom Wetzell (Boehringer Ingelheim) discuss the control of IAV-S, the research & development of vaccines for IAV-S, and the products that are being developed from the research.
The summer has just started and our faculty and graduate students have attended multiple conferences to share the latest and most advanced results of their research. Do not miss them at the 2018 IPVS!
Instestinal lymphangectasis and lipogranulomatous lymphangitis in pigs
Tuesday 12th
9:45am
Carles Vilalta
New strategies for sampling piglets
Wednesday 13th
10:00am
Maria Pieters
The effect of gilt flow on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae acclimation
Wednesday 13th
12:15pm
Montse Torremorell
Transmission of influenza A virus in pigs: the role of the piglet
Wednesday 13th
13:30pm
Fabian Chamba
Influenza herd-level prevalence and seasonality in Midwestern US breeding herds
Wednesday 13th
14:00pm
Jose Angulo
Elimination of vaccine porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus as part of PRRS elimination program using load-closehomogenize method
Wednesday 13th
14:45pm
Talita Resende
Next-generation sequencing coupled with in situ hybridization: a novel diagnostic platform to identify emerging pathogens and new variants of endemic viruses
Our new contribution to the National Hog Farmer was written by Dr. Talita Resende, a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota under the supervision of Dr. Connie Gebhart. Talita’s research focuses on swine ileitis and models to better understand its pathogen: Lawsonia intracellularis. Today, she explains how she uses enteroids.
The small intestine is largely responsible for nutrient digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tracts of pigs, but it is also an ideal colonization site for enteric pathogens. The investigation of the interactions between host and enteric pathogens can be conducted in vivo, or in vitro, with advantages and disadvantages for each of the models. Enteroids, small intestinal organoids, represent a new in vitro approach to investigate those interactions. But why are enteroids a new approach and what are their advantages in comparison to the current models?
Enteroids are three-dimensional structures originated from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent cells or adult stem cells from intestinal tissue. Therefore, they present all the cell types and a structural organization similar to crypts and villi found in the small intestine. This complex structure offers ideal conditions to investigate the mechanisms by which Lawsonia intracellularis causes proliferative enteropathy – also known as ileitis – in pigs.
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.
The objectives of the study are to describe the occurrence of PRRSv in the filtered sow herd population within MSHMP and to assess the associations between farm-level factors and the introduction of PRRSv into filtered sow herds. The results of the study may guide practitioners and veterinarians to modify their management and biosecurity practices in filtered sow herds.
Who can enroll?
All filtered sow herds of MSHMP participants will be eligible for the study. The database will be used together with the PRRSv incidence measure to understand occurrence of PRRS before and after filters were installed. A survey has been created to collect farm specific data such as:
Date when herd was filtered
Type of ventilation (negative or positive)
Back draft prevention methodology
Type of pre-filter and filter
Pre-filter and filter replacement frequency
Number of barns and load outs
Audit frequency
Frequency of gilt introduction and weaning events
Regional density
If you are interested in participating, please contact Dr. Cesar Corzo at corzo(at)umn.edu
A fair part of our audience originates from Spanish-speaking countries. Our researchers appreciate your support and your interest in our work. Recently, Drs. Matthew Sturos and Fabio Vannucci published an article in the journal Albeitar regarding Senecavirus A and its tropism for reproductive organs.
Se trata de un virus patógeno emergente en el ganado porcino. En este artículo se proporciona información general sobre el virus y el conocimiento actual de la patogénesis y las características de la enfermedad.
Today, we will be talking about swine microbiome studies. Dr. Andres Gomez, expert in microbiome, who joined the University as part of the new AGREETT positions wrote an article for the National Hog Farmer about research on swine microbiome.
What does microbiome mean?
Microbiome refers to all of the microbes present in an area. For example, gut microbiome is the entire population of microorganisms (most of the time bacteria) present in the intestinal tract.
Microbes have been traditionally viewed through a lens of distrust, as pathogens affecting health. However, molecular and computational breakthroughs to study microbial diversity and function by sorting DNA sequences have presented a novel concept of an animal “flora” that acts as a friend as opposed to a foe.
Characterizing the microbiome to improve nutrition
Characterizing the specific microbes that increase or decrease in abundance upon pharmaceutical or dietary interventions is critical to determine precise dose-response relationships and to potentially reduce feed costs while achieving desired improvements in pig health and productivity.
Defining “healthy” microbiomes to identify poor-doing pigs
Regular “microbiome snapshots” along the most critical stages of pig growth (e.g., pre- and post-weaning), can be used to predict health and potential pathogen threats for disease by early identification of bacteria in slow-growing pigs or those that are at most risk of infection. This would allow producers to make early decisions on therapeutic or dietary interventions to enhance performance and health.
1) nutrients and feed additives modulate gut microbiomes to impact health and performance, 2) microbiomes across the pig anatomy are accurate biomarkers of stress such as diseases, early weaning, and heat, and 3) microbiomes in manure can be modulated to mitigate harmful gases.
Enhancing the protective microbiome
The microbiome in the gut or respiratory tract is a protective layer against infectious diseases. Thus, with microbiome research, we can determine how novel feed additives and management interventions work, by either enhancing the abundance of microbes that promote health and/or displacing those that cause disease.
Microbiome beyond pork production
For instance, specialized bacteria and fungi can degrade otherwise underutilized natural resources to maximize pig productivity, while decreasing the environmental footprint. Additionally, specialized microbial communities can also mitigate the production of dangerous gases produced in manure pits.
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.
