Pork Producers Advised to Assess Biosecurity in Response to Increased Porcine Enteric Coronavirus Detection

In response to unusual increases in the detection of porcine enteric coronaviruses this summer pork producers are advised to look at what’s happening on their farms that may compromise biosecurity

The Swine Health Information Center’s July domestic swine disease surveillance report, released as part of its monthly eNewsletter, highlights state specific increases in the detection of Porcine delta coronavirus and Porcine epidemic diarrhea.

SHIC Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says the detection of these two enteric viruses was higher than expected in specific states, which is atypical for the summer months.

 

 

 “There was a similar overall detection from May to June but then we see that there were three standard deviations of an increase from baseline as far as the expected level”

 

“PEDv, there was a similar overall detection from May to June but then we see that there were three standard deviations of an increase from baseline as far as the expected level in three states, including Nebraska, Missouri and North Carolina.

“When we look at Porcine delta coronavirus, the overall percentage was very similar across the whole country but we saw these regional increases in both Kansas and Illinois.

“When the advisory group reviewed this data and commented that this was unusual regional activity of porcine enteric coronaviruses, they commented that possible failures of biosecurity, an increase in maintenance projects on farms where you may have maintenance workers coming on farm during the summer months and performing those maintenance projects that may not have been occurring during the other three seasons.

“Also increasing immunologically susceptible populations and also reducing mitigation strategies such as gilt acclimation to porcine enteric coronaviruses, these all may be possible contributors to us seeing this regional increase that is atypical for summer months.“

Dr. Niederwerder encourages producers to look specifically at what is going on in their states and what’s happening on their operations and assess protocols looking at changes over the summer months that may impact biosecurity.