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Vet warns against complacency about Seneca Valley Virus in swine

Dr. Paul Sundberg discusses swine health challenges at the Iowa Pork Congress, Des Moines, Jan. 27, 2016.The Seneca Valley Virus in hogs is far from gone, and veterinarian Dr. Paul Sundberg, executive with the Swine Health Information Center warns against complacency in dealing with the disease.  The danger is that foot and snout lesions caused by Seneca Valley Virus are no different than lesions that would appear on pigs that have foot and mouth disease.

“And of course we haven’t had foot and mouth disease since 1929, and if we get that, we would have a major disruption in our production, in our markets and in our industry,” Sundberg told Brownfield Ag News Friday.

Because of that, Sundberg says lesions common to Seneca Valley Virus should be reported to state or federal animal health officials.

So far this year, labs have reported 60 positive cases of Seneca Valley Virus.  Sundberg says pigs may appear normal, or just a few will show signs.

“But as they are transported either to finishing floors or to markets, the stress of that transport seems to exacerbate the situation and more pigs show up with those lesions,” said Sundberg.

Although Seneca Valley Virus hurts production, Sundberg says pigs generally recover fully.

Swine Health Information Center-funded research is looking at variations in the clinical signs of the virus and also at ways to disinfect premises, but Sundberg recommends biosecurity measures to prevent it.

AUDIO: Paul Sundberg, DVM, PhD, DACVPM (9 min. MP3)

 

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