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Swine Health Committee
April 5, 2005

The Swine Health Committee met on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 from 8:00 am to 11:40 am CST, during the NIAA 2005 Annual Meeting in St. Paul Minnesota, with 35 people present.  Dr. David Nolan served as the Chair and Mr. Jim Leafstedt served as the Vice-Chair.

The committee session focused on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance Issues.  The following speakers presented relevant information pertaining to the aforementioned topics.

Dr. Jerry Torrison, Midwestern diagnostic cases with FAD/emerging disease potential in 2004: Dr. Torrison presented 3 case studies from 2004 that had clinical symptoms which initially included an FAD on the rule-out list. Once the FAD was ruled out, the resources were generally not available to pursue the case further leaving an obvious gap in getting on the front end of emerging disease issues. 

Dr. Robyn Fleck, Addressing Emerging Diseases: Dr. Fleck presented the need for a coordinated approach for diagnosis and research on unknown and/or emerging diseases, a follow up to Dr. Torrison’s case studies.

Dr. Paul Sundberg, Starting a National Swine Disease Surveillance System using a PRV Surveillance Model: Dr. Sundberg discussed the challenges with moving from a simple statistical surveillance system to a system based off risk assessment. Dr. Sundberg also discussed that the same system could be implemented for other ‘at risk’ and emerging diseases.

Dr. Dave Pyburn, Update Swine Health Protection Act; PRV Serum Virus Neutralization (SVN) Test Proposal: Dr. Pyburn presented numbers from 49 states and Puerto Rico that indicated an increase in 2004 inspections. Inspection results and enforcement actions against violations were also outlined.

Dr. Pyburn discussed the pros and cons of removing the SVN test from diagnostic laboratories. The removal could be from all labs except NVSL or only approved labs may be allowed to use the time honored test.

Dr. John Korslund, PRV a Vaccine Success Story; Swine Brucellosis Update - Adapting the PRV model: Dr. Korslund discussed the PRV vaccine success. Concerns exist over availability of vaccine should an outbreak occur.

Dr. Korslund also presented a need for review of the Brucellosis model. The current program standards require testing of the entire breeding herd if one reactor is found. This approach needs review from a scientific standpoint.

Old Business: No Old Business

New Business:

• Two new resolutions were accepted and passed by majority vote.

•     Designation of all U.S. swine premises as Commercial, Transitional, or Feral.

•     Surveillance for Pseudorabies and Swine Brucellosis.

• One Existing resolution was amended by majority vote.

•     PRRS research need.

• No existing resolutions or policy statements were deleted.

Committee Session adjourned at 11:40 am April 5, 2005.