AgView: Contact tracing for ASF and much more
Feb 01, 2022Susan Spiegel
African swine fever (ASF) has spread like a slow burn across the globe since the 2007 identification in the Republic of Georgia. It moved into the EU, then into China and across Asia. In 2021, for...
M. hyo elimination or control: ‘We have the tools to succeed’
Dec 21, 2021Susan Spiegel
Hog farmers and veterinarians no longer have to accept the poorer performance that results from M. hyo infection. Whether the decision is to control or eliminate M. hyo, there are numerous tools...
Next-generation sequencing provides valuable insights on endemic disease agents
Dec 03, 2021Susan Spiegel
Cutting-edge molecular technologies offer novel insights into the molecular epidemiology of systemic bacterial agents.
When should PRRS whole-genome sequencing be used?
Dec 03, 2021Susan Spiegel
For PRRS, there are benefits to whole-genome sequencing, especially when Orf 5 sequencing doesn’t fully answer important diagnostic questions.
Breeding Herd, Diagnostics, FSVS, Global TOPICS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, PRRS, SVC, TOPICS, Videos
Virus persistence challenges PRRS management strategies
Oct 12, 2021Susan Spiegel
Eliminating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) from pigs might not yet be possible, but monitoring tools could help refine a herd's PRRSV stability.
Better manage your sow herd with uniform body-condition technique
Sep 29, 2021Susan Spiegel
Feed budgets are based on sow condition and if the herd isn’t uniform, it can lead to higher feed costs.
Molecular diagnostic tools help distinguish wild-type and vaccine strains of PRRSV
Sep 16, 2021Susan Spiegel
Challenges associated with controlling porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have resulted in the increased use of molecular diagnostic tests and sequencing.
How to tackle mortality-causing lameness in finishing hogs
Sep 15, 2021Susan Spiegel
Lameness is now the leading cause of mortality in mid- to late-finishing pigs. How did lameness develop into such a big problem?
Diagnostics, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Pig Welfare, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
Early identification critical in preventing sow lameness
Aug 19, 2021Susan Spiegel
Sow lameness continues to trouble hog operations in the US, causing high numbers of involuntary removals from herds.
Iowa scientists focused on diagnosing, managing Streptococcus suis in pigs
Nov 30, 2020Susan Spiegel
Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of S. suis.
Iowa scientist sees ‘a lot of genetic diversity’ in swine influenza viruses
Nov 24, 2020Susan Spiegel
According to research, swine influenza A viruses have become more complicated in recent years. There is a great deal of diversity within the influenza virus.
Diagnostics, Emerging Diseases, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, TOP NEWS, Videos
From veterinarian to forensic detective: Solving a mysterious swine disease
Nov 20, 2020Susan Spiegel
In fall 2019, a client called Four Star Veterinary Service clinic in Mexico, IN, and reported the loss of a lot of sows. Daniel Gascho, DVM, had several ideas of what could cause the sow mortalities....
Diagnostics, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Podcasts, Respiratory Health, SVC, TOP NEWS, Videos
Genetic diversity makes swine influenza a challenge for producers
Oct 16, 2020Susan Spiegel
Influenza A virus in swine is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging swine production systems in the US and around the world.
Veterinarians answer questions on influenza
Sep 15, 2020Susan Spiegel
With influenza A virus (IAV-S) in swine continuing to cause performance losses on US pig farms, veterinarians have taken up the mantle to find solutions.
Can the processing-fluid toolbox expand beyond PRRS?
Sep 10, 2020Susan Spiegel
Piglet processing fluids have been shown to be a practical, time-efficient and affordable diagnostic tool for PRRS, and some indications suggest that PCV2 offers promise as well.
Tracheal sampling for M. hyo may hold new benefits
Sep 09, 2020Susan Spiegel
Tracheal sampling is a good way to determine if M. hyo is present in a herd, but it’s an invasive procedure that can be difficult to accomplish.
Resurgent Mycoplasma hyorhinis causes debilitating arthritis in late finishing
Jun 28, 2020Susan Spiegel
Infectious arthritis caused by Mycoplasma hyorhinis is gaining ground in hog units where it infects neonatal pigs and develops into severe lameness in market hogs.
Breeding Herd, Diagnostics, FSVS, Global TOP NEWS, Growing Pigs, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Research, SVC, TOP NEWS
Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs
Jun 28, 2020Susan Spiegel
For both the sow and piglet, an animal that does not perform to its potential or falls behind its counterparts will negatively impact the sow farm’s productivity and profitability.
Diagnostics, Global TOPICS, Growing Pigs, Interviews, News, PGT GLOBAL, PGT US, Pig Care, Podcasts, TOPICS, Videos
Inadequate iron supplements cause subclinical anemia in weaned pigs
May 20, 2020Susan Spiegel
The standard 200 mg iron shot for baby pigs at processing may not be enough iron to last until weaning.
Study compares PRRSV antibody-sampling options for sows
Apr 24, 2020Susan Spiegel
When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory virus it’s important for the veterinarian and farm personnel to know the health status of a herd or barn.
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: New strategies for an old ‘bug’
Apr 10, 2020Susan Spiegel
Managing Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) is nothing new for US pig veterinarians and producers, but there are a number of new tools available to deal with the bacterium.
Maintain mycoplasma-negative herds with laryngeal swab tests from incoming gilts
Dec 18, 2019Susan Spiegel
Sow farms that have eradicated M. hyo must continue surveillance to keep the pathogen out or the results will be devastating.
Population-based diagnostics pinpoint the power in numbers
Oct 20, 2019Susan Spiegel
The world of diagnostics is expanding. Instead of focusing on individual animals, population-based diagnostics help veterinarians and producers identify the health status of their barns more quickly...
Processing fluids’ effectiveness in monitoring PCV2 in sow herds
Sep 11, 2019Susan Spiegel
Vaccines have provided effective control options for PCV2, but vertical transmission remains a challenge for some farms.
Processing fluids hold promise for PCV2 testing on sow farms
Aug 06, 2019Susan Spiegel
Understanding the pathogen status of a sow herd helps determine the prevention, control and treatment options to protect piglets as they grow. For PCV2 there is no treatment; however, vaccination is...
Emerging technologies at AASV: Four new tools to boost efficiency
May 21, 2019Susan Spiegel
Between tight margins and constant herd-health challenges, pork producers are always looking for new ways to increase efficiencies and profits while also increasing transparency.
Senecavirus A: Several questions remain unanswered
May 20, 2019Susan Spiegel
Senecavirus A (SVA) is detected in a pig’s tonsils about 40 days after infection with the virus — a finding that raises some interesting questions.
Emerging technologies at AASV: Three cool tools headed to hog farms
May 15, 2019Susan Spiegel
The so-called Internet of Things — that emerging world in which everyday tools like thermostats and doorbells suddenly become indispensable smart devices — is not lost on the pork industry.
Simpler, less costly monitoring methods helping pork industry get a better read on PRRS
May 10, 2019Susan Spiegel
Newer testing methods for the PRRS virus are not only simpler and less costly than traditional procedures, they are also helping farms more accurately track the virus through different production...
Gene editing offers future options to address swine diseases
Mar 02, 2019Susan Spiegel
Whether the focus is human or animal medicine, gene editing has created a buzz today about its potential for addressing numerous health issues.
Finding ‘root of the problem’ key in herds with multiple disease challenges
Jan 24, 2019Susan Spiegel
New diagnostic tools have helped the pork industry get a better handle on disease monitoring, but how do you prioritize when multiple pathogens have infected the herd?
Tails or testicles: Which are better for PRRSV monitoring?
Jan 04, 2019Susan Spiegel
Pooled serum samples are a common method to monitor PPRSV in piglets. But this typically involves a limited number of samples, which reduces the sensitivity and makes detection especially challenging...
Dipsticks offer early warning of sow urinary-tract infections
Sep 06, 2018Susan Spiegel
Minimizing urinary-tract infections is an important step — not only in securing a sow’s overall health but also its productivity and, ultimately, its longevity.
SHIC PCR catalog boosts US pork industry’s disease preparedness
Jul 19, 2018Susan Spiegel
Pork producers and swine veterinarians spend a lot of time and energy monitoring the health status of pigs in their care. But it’s the unknown or emerging diseases that could pose an even larger...
PCR falls short in monitoring PRRSV transport biosecurity
Jul 19, 2018Susan Spiegel
Transport biosecurity is a growing priority as evidence shows that contaminated livestock trailers are a significant risk in spreading viruses between herds.
Don’t get complacent with evolving PCV2 virus
Jul 10, 2018Susan Spiegel
Vaccines for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) currently do an adequate job of cross protecting against new genotypes of the virus, but swine veterinarians and producers shouldn’t let their guard...
