PDS Responds to Porcine Sapovirus in Canada

Prairie Diagnostic Services, with support from the Government of Saskatchewan, is responding to the recently identified presence of Porcine Sapovirus in Canada

In response to the identification of Porcine Sapovirus in western Canada, Prairie Diagnostic Service, in collaboration with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University developed and is in the process of validating new PCR tests for the virus.

Dr. Yanyun Huang, an Anatomic Pathologist and Chief Executive Officer with Prairie Diagnostic Services, told those participating in a Swine Health Information Center and American Association of Swine Veterinarians webinar the presence of Sapovirus in Canada was first reported in January by veterinarians participating in one of the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network conference calls.

 

 

 “There is actually quite a variety of strains in the United States and I fully assume that would be a similar case in Canada but we need the data to show that”

 

“We are now trying  to roll out a surveillance program in Saskatchewan. We will do PCR testing on the diarrhea samples that we receive.

“When we have more samples, we will be able to accumulate enough numbers that can go through our validation process that we can claim the test to be fully validated.

“Then we will also raise awareness of the availability of sequencing capacity here in Canada.
In fact, we can help, not only to test for the virus but also sequence the virus for use in furthering vaccine development and the sequencing information can help us to characterize the different strains out there.

“There is actually quite a variety of strains in the United States and I fully assume that would be a similar case in Canada but we need the data to show that.“

Dr. Huang says collaboration has been key to responding to Porcine Sapovirus and he applauds the communication among diagnosticians in the U.S., the Canadian Swine health Intelligence Network and clinical veterinarians and practitioners.