{"id":7545,"date":"2022-10-19T12:44:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T17:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmgate.com\/usa\/?p=6726"},"modified":"2022-12-22T13:49:21","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T19:49:21","slug":"look-beyond-headline-news-to-protect-swine-herd-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmgate.com\/usa\/news\/look-beyond-headline-news-to-protect-swine-herd-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Look beyond headline news to protect swine herd health"},"content":{"rendered":"

In pork production, we often focus on epidemic disease agents, such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), or the threat of foreign animal diseases like African Swine Fever. Lurking behind these headline-grabbing viral challenges are endemic bacterial agents such as Streptococcus suis<\/em> or Glaesserella parasuis<\/em>. These bacteria might not make the nightly news, but they\u2019re commonly found in pigs\u2019 respiratory tracts, where they\u2019re a constant threat to herd health, animal well-being and performance potential.<\/p>\n

A relatively new technology is helping swine veterinarians and pork producers better control diseases caused by these endemic agents.<\/p>\n

Next generation gene sequencing<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the past, veterinarians could only broadly identify and diagnose disease-causing bacteria by culturing samples in the lab. Yet, many of these bacteria were difficult to culture. If they could be cultured, researchers could only identify the agent by species.<\/p>\n

Now, next generation sequencing (NGS) can differentiate between strains of bacteria at the genetic level and identify strains that, although related, act differently in the pig or the barn environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeginning about three years ago, we were able to confirm that different strains have different impacts, and different pig flows carry different strains,\u201d says Dr. Maria Jose Clavijo, a research associate professor at Iowa State University and a health assurance veterinarian with Pig Improvement Company (PIC). \u201cIt\u2019s an obvious concept, and it\u2019s what we expected, but we didn’t have the tools or the methodology to characterize the differences before next generation sequencing became available.\u201d<\/p>\n

By differentiating strains, veterinarians can precisely select antibiotics, vaccines and management strategies. Such accurate identification of a bacterial strain helps veterinarians and producers implement the best possible disease management protocols to control the pathogen.<\/p>\n

The triple threat to pig health<\/strong><\/p>\n

While accurate identification of bacteria strains is crucial to managing endemic diseases, the pathogen is only one of the three factors creating a risk of disease outbreak. Jose Clavijo refers to the triple threat to pig health as \u201cthe epidemiological triad,\u201d which includes the pathogen, the host animal and the barn environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the interaction between all three that you need to be aware of to better control endemic disease,\u201d Jose Clavijo says. \u201cYou need to understand the pathogen. You need to understand the susceptibilities of the pig, including potential co-infections. And, you need to understand environmental factors like humidity, temperature, comingling pigs and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the case of endemic bacteria, NGS gives veterinarians and pork producers a clear picture of one of the three \u201cthreats\u201d of a disease challenge: detailed information about the pathogen. This information can help strengthen a multifaceted approach to managing endemic disease agents. Successful strategies might include:1<\/sup><\/p>\n