PRRSV Enhances PCV2a and PCV2b Replication and Duration of Shedding
Summary of a paper presented by T. Opriessnig of Iowa State University in the US at the 6th Symposium on Emerging and Re-Emerging Pig Diseases, Barcelona, Spain in June 2011.

Proceedings of SafePork 2011
The 9th International Conference on the Epidemiology and Control of biological, chemical and physical hazards in pigs and pork was held in Maastricht, the Netherlands from 19 to 22 June 2011.

Characterisation of Recent Human-Like H1 (δ-Cluster) Swine Influenza Virus Isolates
There is considerable genetic and antigenic heterogeneity among δ-cluster H1 swine influenza virus (SIV) isolates, according to researchers at Newport Laboratories in the US.

Supply Chain Approach Needed to Swine Dysentery
Following several confirmed outbreaks of swine dysentery in northern England recently, stockmen and farmers need to be looking out for the signs and to know what to do in case the disease strikes. Jackie Linden, senior editor of ThePigSite, reports on...

Effect of Rescue Decks on Pre-Weaning Mortality in a Prolific Sow Herd
The Rescue Deck system produces extra pigs weaned, however, the profitability of the system is dependent on the margin over weaner, grower and finisher feed costs for these extra pigs, according to a report on a project supported by a BPEX Innovation...

Air Filtration Systems Effective in Preventing Airborne Spread of PRRS and M hyo
All the air filter types tested equally reduced the risk of airborne transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo), according to researchers based in St Paul, Minnesota.

Quantifying and Understanding Tail Biting in Pigs
Complying with EU legislation on tail docking is made difficult because of the intractability of tail biting in pigs, according to Laura Boyle of Teagasc.

Building Trust through Quality Assurance
Building success in the market, both domestically and internationally, is based on building trust in the quality and safety of products and now more importantly trust in the ethical correctness of production, writes ThePigSite editor in chief, Chris ...

Blood Parameters and Weight Gain on Day 1 Linked to Survival
Survival of crossbred piglets to weaning was linked to several blood parameters at birth and on day 1 as well as weight gain on day 1, according to scientists based in Oslo, and piglets born in the last third of the litter were less vital.

African Swine Fever: an Increasing Threat for Europe
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease, which has no vaccine and often leads to 100 per cent mortality. With Russia unable to control its rapidly spreading ASF outbreak, the threat of this devastating disease in Europe is growing.

Identification of H-2d Restricted T Cell Epitope of an FMDV Protein
Experiments in Lanzhou, China, predicted 30 potential CTL epitopes on structural protein VP1 through bioinformatics, thus reducing the scope for the identification of potential epitopes and improving the accuracy of the experiments. The study provides...

Potential Effects of Carry-Over of Antimicrobials in Pig Feed
A three per cent carry-over of most antibiotics is unlikely to result in major resistance development in comparison with regular therapeutic use, according to David Burch of Octagon Services Ltd, UK. However, there is a possibility that some antibiotics,...

Pig-Associated Lawsonia intracellularis in Various on-Farm Flies
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that on many farms, one dominant farm isolate of L. intracellularis occurs within the pigs and the farm environment, including the insects most closely associated with the pigs. Of the insects...

Emerging Threats Quarterly Report – Pig Diseases – July to September 2011
An ongoing investigation initiated in May 2011 has revealed that what began with the detection of pathogenic leptospire infection by PCR in the kidney of a neonatal pig has led to high antibody titres to Leptospira Pomona, a serovar exotic to the...

Mycotoxins, Endotoxins and Their Control
Mycotoxins and endotoxins impair animal health and immune status as well as feed production in various ways: these toxins are invisible, odorless and cannot be detected by smell or taste, but can significantly reduce pig performance, according to Radka...

US Producers Join Regional Groups to Control PRRS
The long-term vision of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) is to eliminate porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS). As traditional methods have not been effective in all cases, regional, voluntary programmes have been developed...

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Swine Influenza Virus Infection in the English Pig Population
There was evidence of the swine flu virus on half of the farms tested by a UK research group, and the likelihood of finding this evidence was lower for pigs kept in straw yards, during the summer and where there were fewer pigs per drinker.

Lentviral-Mediated RNAi for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus
The interference integrin av subunit expressing system is a feasible strategy for overcoming the issue of high genetic variability of the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) and viral escape, report researchers from China.

Setting Health and Safety Standards for the World
International standards for food safety and animal health and welfare can be and often are contentious issues, writes ThePigSite Editor in Chief, Chris Harris.

Probing Genetic Control of Swine Responses to PRRS Virus Infection
The PRRS Host Genetics Consortium (PHGC) project will enable researchers to discover and verify important genotypes and phenotypes that predict resistance/susceptibility to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection, say US researchers...

Genetic Characterisation of Swine Influenza Viruses Isolated from Minnesota
H3N2 influenza strains circulating in North America share the same genetic constellation, according to researchers in Virginia, who investigated viruses isolated from Minnesota in 2006-2007.

High Frequency of Multiresistant Coagulase-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Found in Slaughter Pigs in Uruguay
Although no methicillin-resistant S. aureus were detected, all the coagulase-positive S. aureus found in slaughter pigs in Uruguay were resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials, say researchers based in Germany and Finland,...

Bleak Picture for Russian African Swine Fever Situation
Major concerns have been raised over the potential for African Swine Fever that was first discovered in Georgia and has now spread to Russia to spread to other countries in Europe, writes ThePigSite Editor in Chief, Chris Harris.