Zoonotic disease awareness survey of backyard poultry and swine owners in southcentral Pennsylvania

Owners of small backyard poultry and swine operations may be at higher risk of zoonotic diseases due to husbandry inexperience and/or a lack of knowledge. Backyard poultry and swine owners in southcentral Pennsylvania were surveyed regarding their knowledge and attitudes towards zoonotic disease prevention. One hundred and six backyard poultry and/or swine owners completed the survey (74 poultry, 15 swine, 17 both), which included questions on demographics, flock/herd characteristics, recognition of selected zoonotic diseases and clinical signs in animals, and biosecurity practices for visitors and owners. Most responded that they were aware of avian (92.2%) and swine (84.4%) influenza, and were less aware of other zoonotic diseases such as salmonellosis and brucellosis. The majority of backyard poultry and swine owners combined (62.9%) reported allowing visitors freely around their animals and did not require any special precautions. Backyard poultry and swine owners most commonly reported rarely (32.7%) or never (28.9%) wearing work gloves and never (57.1%) wearing nose/mouth coverings, such as a respirator mask, while handling animals or manure. The study findings indicated that veterinarians (61.5%) and the Internet (50.0%) are the main sources where small‐scale farm producers seek animal disease information. Approximately one‐third (34.9%) of the respondents reported receiving seasonal influenza vaccine. The findings of this study will be utilized to provide targeted veterinary and public health education for the prevention of zoonotic diseases in backyard farm animal settings in Pennsylvania.     

Relationship of trade patterns of the Danish swine industry animal movements network to potential disease spread

The movements of animals were analysed under the conceptual framework of graph theory in mathematics. The swine production related premises of Denmark were considered to constitute the nodes of a network and the links were the animal movements. In this framework, each farm will have a network of other premises to which it will be linked. A premise was a farm (breeding, rearing or slaughter pig), an abattoir or a trade market. The overall network was divided in premise specific subnets that linked the other premises from and to which animals were moved. This approach allowed us to visualise and analyse the three levels of organization related to animal movements that existed in the Danish swine production registers: the movement of animals between two premises, the premise specific networks, and the industry network. The analyses of animal movements were done using these three levels of organisation. The movements of swine were studied for the period September 30, 2002 to May 22, 2003. For daily movements of swine between two slaughter pig premises, the median number of pigs moved was 130 pigs with a maximum of 3306. For movements between a slaughter pig premise and an abattoir, the median number of pigs was 24. The largest percentage of movements was from farm to abattoir (82.5%); the median number of pigs per movement was 24 and the maximum number was 2018. For the whole period the median and maximum Euclidean distances observed in farm-to-farm movements were 22 km and 289 km respectively, while in the farm-to-abattoir movements, they were 36.2 km and 285 km. The network related to one specific premise showed that the median number of premises was mainly away from slaughter pig farms (3) or breeder farms (26) and mainly to an abattoir (1535). The assumption that animal movements can be randomly generated on the basis of farm density of the surrounding area of any farm is not correct since the patterns of animal movements have the topology of a scale-free network with a large degree of heterogeneity. This supported the opinion that the disease spread software assuming homogeneity in farm-to-farm relationship should only be used for large-scale interpretation and for epidemic preparedness. The network approach, based on graph theory, can be used efficiently to express more precisely, on a local scale (premise), the heterogeneity of animal movements. This approach, by providing network knowledge to the local veterinarian in charge of controlling disease spread, should also be evaluated as a potential tool to manage epidemics during the crisis. Geographic information systems could also be linked in the approach to produce knowledge about local transmission of disease.     

Human-directed aggression in miniature pet pigs

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether associations exist between human-directed aggression and sex, neutering status, age of weaning, the presence of other pet pigs, or the presence of environmental enrichment objects in miniature pet pigs. DESIGN: Internet survey. STUDY POPULATION: Responses from 222 owners of miniature pet pigs. PROCEDURES: Pet pig owners were requested to complete a 48-item multiple-choice and short-answer Internet survey for each pig that they presently owned. RESULTS: Among 222 surveys that met enrollment criteria, human-directed aggression that occurred on at least 1 occasion was reported in 64% (n = 142) and aggression that occurred once or more per month was reported in 31% (69). No significant differences were found in the prevalence of human-directed aggression among castrated males, sexually intact females, and spayed females. Ages of weaning and neutering and the presence of objects intended to serve as environmental enrichment were not associated with frequency of aggression. A significant inverse association was detected between presence of other pigs in the same household and human-directed aggression, such that 21% (20/95) of pigs that lived with at least 1 conspecific were aggressive on a frequent basis, compared with 39% (49/126) of pigs that lived with no conspecific. A similar inverse association was evident regarding aggression that occurred on at least 1 occasion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that human-directed aggression is a common problem in miniature pet pigs. The presence of a conspecific can be expected to reduce the likelihood of human-directed aggression.     

Description of empirical movement data from Canadian swine herds with an application to a disease spread simulation model

We report the methods and findings of a survey of Canadian swine producers summarizing farm-types at-risk of foreign animal disease (FAD) and the routine movement of animals, semen and workers among swine farms, as observed during a 42-day period. Of the 311 producers who returned completed questionnaires, 17% represented swine-herds with no swine or semen movement on or off the farm during the 42 days, 57% were sow herds or farrow-to-finish herds with limited movement onto the farm but movement off the farm, and 26% were swine-herds with movements on and off the farm. A substantial number of premises (>50% in some provinces) with swine also kept other animal species on the same premises. We applied the empirical movement data from the survey in a stochastic simulation model to estimate the number of herds infected and the basic regional distribution of infection that could be expected to occur if the FAD was not detected and routine movements were permitted to occur up to 42 days after infection with a FAD of a single randomly selected herd. Forty-five percent of the simulations did not involve spread beyond the index farm, whereas 34.8% involved spread among five or more farms after 42 days of routine movement.     

Assessment of the management practices facilitating the establishment and spread of exotic diseases of pigs in the Sydney region

OBJECTIVE: To assess management factors that would influence the establishment and spread of exotic diseases in pigs in the Sydney region. DESIGN: Saleyard and pig producer practices that could assist the initiation and subsequent spread of exotic diseases in pigs were surveyed and assessed over a 12 month period. PROCEDURE: Two saleyards in the Sydney region selling pigs were attended weekly for 12 months (2002-2003) to collect details on vendors and purchasers of pigs. Pig producer locations were mapped. All pig farmers on the Department of Primary Industries temporary brand register were surveyed to record management practices and knowledge of exotic diseases. Swine brands were inspected to determine their quality as a tracing mechanism. RESULTS: There were 101 pig sale days during the survey period with 13,869 pigs sold. There were 305 vendors, of whom 95% were identifiable through saleyard records. However, only 40% of the 377 purchasers were identifiable. More than one third of the 1749 transactions were for cash without the identity of the purchaser being recorded at the saleyards. Some 3% of pigs failed to sell and were returned to the property of origin. A total of 64 of 132 pig producers in the Sydney region were surveyed and 52 responded with survey information. The production systems of pig producers were predominately intensive or semi-intensive (88%) with 69% of these operators being small hobby producers. Pigs were mostly fed household and commercial scraps that were free of meat scraps, however, 2 producers were found to be feeding meat scraps (swill) illegally. Some 56% of producers surveyed did not have a tattoo swine brand and of the 23 producers with registered brands, 3 were not available for inspection or were not functional and 2 used the brand irregularly. CONCLUSION: This survey has identified factors that would assist the establishment and spread of vesicular and other exotic diseases in pigs. The factors included feeding meat scraps (swill), poor farmer knowledge of exotic diseases, ineffective pig owner identification at saleyards, the practice of cash sales that precluded the collection of purchaser details, and inadequate identification of pigs. Tracing the movements of pigs under these circumstances would be difficult.     

The effects of low voltage current on healing of thermal third degree wounds.

Bilateral third degree burns were created on the flanks of eight miniature swine. Each animal had one side treated daily with low intensity direct (LIDC) of 400 microamperes (muA) by contact electrode for 2 hours morning and afternoon until healing occurred. The polarity of the electrode was negative in 4 pigs and positive in 4 pigs. One group of 4 pigs had the eschar surgically removed 24 hours post burn. Weekly biopsies and cultures were taken of treated and control wounds. Results indicated: local treatment of 400 muA LIDC did not hasten or delay healing of thermal third degree burns; escharectomy hastened wound healing by 10 days, and superficial proteus infection occurred in 80% of all wounds.     

小型猪作为人类疾病动物模型在生物医学研究中的应用

与啮齿类小型实验动物模型相比,小型猪因其解剖学、生理学、疾病发生等方面与人类极为相似,且价廉、无伦理问题等方面的原因,在生物医学研究领域中具有广阔的应用前景,尤其在人类疾病动物模型制作、新药安全性评价、异种器官移植等领域应用更广.论文主要综述了国内外小型猪作为心血管疾病、消化系统疾病、皮肤烧(烫)伤、口腔疾病、异种器官...     

荣昌猪和两种小型猪遗传背景的微卫星分析

荣昌猪是我国优良地方品种,巴马香猪和贵州小型香猪为我国独特小型猪品系。本研究采用美国猪基因组协作计划推荐的19个微卫星标记对荣昌猪、荣昌猪B系、巴马香猪、贵州小型香猪及外来猪种大白猪进行了遗传学检测和分析。结果表明:19个微卫星位点在群体中均表现为多态,每位点等位基因数10~23个。5个猪种中荣昌猪B系的遗传多样性最高,荣昌猪次之;2种小型猪的遗传多样性较低,其中巴马香猪的等位基因数(121个)略大于贵州小型香猪(114个),但其遗传多样性指数(平均期望杂合度0.6535±0.0347)小于贵州小型香猪(0.6919±0.0227),反映了巴马香猪较低的基因杂合度和较小的遗传变异;大白猪的遗传多样性最低。从品系的共有等位基因来看,荣昌猪B系基因背景组成中其亲本品系荣昌猪所占比例(30.22%)要大于大白猪(24.37%);大白猪和其他4个猪群体的共享等位基因数均较低(21.24%~25.12%);巴马香猪和贵州小型香猪之间共有等位基因数最高(45.06%)。采用基于遗传距离的NJ法和基于基因频率的最大似然法进行系统聚类,除了大白猪明显为独立分支及荣昌猪B系表现出较远的聚类关系外,其他3个猪种间的聚类有所不同。     

Management factors affecting the risk for vesicular stomatitis in livestock operations in the western United States.

OBJECTIVE: To identify management factors affecting the risk of animals developing vesicular stomatitis (VS). DESIGN: Case-control study. ANIMALS: Horses, cattle, and sheep with suspected vesicular stomatitis on 395 premises in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. PROCEDURE: Data were collected during the VS outbreak of 1997. Diagnosticians interviewed livestock owners and completed a supplemental questionnaire. Cases were defined as those premises that had a completed questionnaire and had > or = 1 animal positive for VS. Control premises were all premises investigated that had a completed questionnaire and on which the animals had been tested but VS was not detected. RESULTS: Animals that had access to a shelter or barn had a reduced risk of developing VS (OR, 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.99). This effect was more pronounced for equine premises (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.9). Conversely, during an adjusted analysis on equine premises, risk of developing disease was increased slightly where animals had access to pasture (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.7). On all premises where owners reported insect populations were greater than normal, odds of developing disease were significantly increased (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.47 to 4.47). Premises with animals housed < 0.25 miles from running water were more than twice as likely to have clinical signs of VS (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.32 to 5.0). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results support reports of others that suggest biting insects are a vector in VS virus transmission. Management practices to reduce exposure to biting insects might reduce the risk of VS.     

Toward a better understanding of pig behavior and pig welfare

Pork production began to flourish in the USA after the practice of finishing pigs on corn was popularized in the late 1600s. By the 1840s, there were 35 million pigs and 20 million people in the USA and Cincinnati was the world's largest pork market. Between 1890 and the present, the total number of pigs in the USA has remained at 50-60 million, but dramatic changes in swine husbandry over the course of the 20th century have metamorphosed pig production from small, extensive (outdoor), labor-dependent enterprises into large, intensive (indoor), capital-dependent, production systems. This development has led to debate concerning the impact of swine production on animal/human health, the environment, and the welfare of the animals under our care. In a very tangible way, the future of pork production depends on effectively addressing the public's concerns regarding animal welfare and health. Here, we review basic sensory and behavioral aspects of swine with the objective of reaching a better understanding of pig behavior and pig welfare. The premise of this discussion is that safeguarding animal welfare and health is good for pigs, pork producers and the animal-conscious public.     

Preparedness for major OIE-listed epidemics: implementation of simulation exercises

Large-scale outbreaks of animal disease cause mass death of animals, a devastating economic impact on livestock industries and communities and furthermore often great distress for owners and keepers of animals. Such large-scale outbreaks have, during the last decade, been experienced by certain EU Member States in pigs caused by classical swine fever outbreaks, in ruminants and pigs due to foot and mouth disease and in poultry as a result of infections by avian influenza virus. With the aim of preventing introduction of the OIE former list A diseases and enhance disease preparedness most European countries have in recent years adopted contingency plans and conducted simulation exercises. Simulation exercises will, in this paper, be discussed with special references to: objectives, scope of exercises, preparation of scenarios, tasks to be performed by participants, the need for facilities, management of exercises and the work of the supervisory team.     

猪流感病毒血凝素基因的研究进展

猪流感是由猪流感病毒引起的一种急性、热性、高度接触传染性呼吸道疾病,可继发和并发多种细菌病和病毒病,已日益成为危害世界猪群的主要传染病之一。猪流感病毒血凝素基因作为流感病毒表面最主要的抗原基因,其表达蛋白具有丰富的生物学作用,对流感病毒的致病性起着主导作用。作者主要对猪流感病毒血凝素基因的研究进行了综述,为进一步防治猪流感及开发新型疫苗提供帮助。     

A review of porcine pathophysiology: a different approach to disease

Diseases are often thought to result from a single cause. Although this is sometimes the case, e.g. with a highly virulent infection such as Classical Swine Fever (CSF), more often clinical disease in swine herds results from multiple predisposing factors. This is especially true in modern intensive pig husbandry, in which the role of highly infectious diseases is limited to (nonetheless devastating) outbreaks. More important nowadays are diseases, although associated with an agent, without a clear pathogenesis. The emphasis in disease control thus far has been on treatment, eradication and prevention. This has been achieved by focusing attention on husbandry factors, such as climate, housing, hygiene, management, and nutrition. Although this approach has been successful for a number of diseases, several health problems are persistent. There are strong indications that in the latter, intrinsic animal factors are important. Successful handling of these problems requires knowledge of the (patho)physiology of the pig. In this article, several characteristics of pig physiology associated with the occurrence of disease are described. It appears that the modern (fattening) pig is exceptional among other animal species in that its cardiovascular system is mismatched to its body weight. It is argued that this particular disposition causes relatively minor disturbances to have major consequences in the pig. This concept of pig physiology is central to the understanding of the hitherto poorly understood pathogenesis of several diseases, such as oedema disease.     

Analysis of the 1998 outbreak of leptospirosis in Missouri in humans exposed to infected swine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of leptospirosis in persons exposed to infected swine, confirm the source of disease, define risk factors for infection, and identify means for preventing additional infections during an outbreak in Missouri in 1998. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 240 people and 1,700 pigs. PROCEDURE: An epidemiologic investigation was conducted of people exposed to infected pigs from the University of Missouri-Columbia swine herd. The investigation included review of health of the pigs, a cross-sectional study of the people handling the pigs, serologic testing of human and porcine sera, and risk-factor analysis for leptospirosis within the human population. RESULTS: Serologic testing of samples collected at the time of the investigation indicated that 59% of the pigs had titers to leptospires, denoting exposure. Of the 240 people in the exposed study population, 163 (68%) were interviewed, and of these, 110 (67%) submitted a blood sample. Nine (8%) cases of leptospirosis were confirmed by serologic testing. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis included smoking (odds ratio [OR], 14.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 137.74) and drinking beverages (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.04 to 24.30) while working with infected pigs. Washing hands after work was protective (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.81). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Leptospirosis is a risk for swine producers and slaughterhouse workers, and may be prevented through appropriate hygiene, sanitation, and animal husbandry. It is essential to educate people working with animals or animal tissues about measures for reducing the risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.     

生猪保险查勘定损工作中的生物安全风险防范措施探讨

在非洲猪瘟防控新形势下,各猪场都高度重视生物安全,对生物安全风险防范工作提出了新的要求。在这种情况下,过去生猪保险查勘定损中的一些传统做法已经不能适应新形势,出现了猪场封闭式管理和查勘定损工作相冲突,病死猪理赔监督不到位、死亡原因不明、处理不及时以及部分查勘员生物安全意识淡薄等现象。对此,有关部门和机构应加强生物安全培训,采用网络和电子化等手段变革传统工作方式,在保险机构和畜牧兽医部门间加强联动和信息共享,把查勘定损、无害化处理和疫病监测溯源工作有机结合,把生物安全风险降到最低。     

Challenges and opportunities for smallholder livestock production in post-conflict South Kivu, eastern DR Congo

A survey on smallholder livestock production with emphasis on monogastric animals was conducted in 20 villages of seven so-called 'groupements' of South Kivu province in DR Congo, situated along a north to south-west axis with the town of Bukavu in the center. This land adjacent to Lake Kivu is located at elevations ranging around 900- 1900 m asl, experiencing tropical highland climate. A diagnostic survey helped to rapidly obtain in-depth knowledge of constraints and opportunities in this environment. Correspondence analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the association of production constraints with particular livestock species and to understand the factors that govern the number of livestock that people owned (converted to tropical livestock units [TLU]), respectively. Responses of 112 informants demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region's mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per household at present reflect the poverty as a consequence of recent violent conflicts. Currently, farmers focus on small livestock, like poultry, swine, cavies (i.e., Guinea pigs) and rabbits. Families keep livestock to accumulate household reserves that are strongly invested in children's education. Major issues of animal husbandry were related to animal diseases and lack of feed resources, particularly in the dry season. Lack of feed or forages were unrelated to a particular livestock species. Livestock holdings depended on animal diversity, location, land size available and respondents' education level. The potential introduction of improved forages is challenged by their dry-season tolerance, compatibility with cropping on small farms; and people's readiness to cultivate forages.     

非洲猪瘟对我国生猪养殖产业的影响与展望

非洲猪瘟病毒从2018年下旬入侵我国,对我国生猪养殖产业造成重创,导致生猪养殖的数量和规模锐减,经济损失严重,对我国畜牧养殖产业的科学发展以及我国经济的平稳运行均造成巨大威胁。目前非洲猪瘟还会导致我国生猪的出栏量显著下降,猪肉产品价格显著提高,通过分析了解现阶段非洲猪瘟导致的影响可加强应对非洲猪瘟的防控措施,改善目前生猪养殖产业发展的方向,恢复生猪养殖生产,保障我国猪肉市场的供应。该文对非洲猪瘟对我国生猪养殖产业的影响、应对措施及未来的展望进行论述。     

新发疫病猪圆环病毒3型研究概况及防控措施

猪病的传播和流行一直是制约我国生猪养殖业发展的主要因素,特别是近年来猪病流行情况的日益复杂,非洲猪瘟、猪圆环病毒3型（Porcine Circovirus Type 3, PCV3）等多种新发疫病的不断出现,严重制约了我国生猪产业的发展,对生猪产业造成严重打击,同时也加速了我国猪场转型升级的步伐,对现代化猪场的生物安全和饲养管理提出了更高的要求。PCV3在2016年国内猪场发生至今,已传播扩散至我国多省的不同地区,成为严重威胁我国养猪业的一种新发疫病,PCV3感染导致猪群健康受损的同时,也大大增加了其他病原微生物感染的风险,且目前暂无有效疫苗对PCV3进行防控,给猪场造成了严重经济损失。本文对PCV3病原学特征、流行病学特点、临床症状和防控措施等方面进行简单综述,以期为预防PCV3的流行传播和基础研究提供参考。