Traces of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus found in Saskatchewan last week should eliminate any temptation toward complacency about the deadly hog virus.
No hog barns in the province have the virus, but a random test done at a truck wash turned up a positive sample of PED on the boots of a transport truck driver who had taken Canadian slaughter hogs to Iowa.
Dr. Chris Byra of the Canadian Swine Intelligence Network shared the news Feb. 28 during a conference call organized by Alberta Pork.
He said samples taken from the truck were negative, but the virus was found in a tote where the truck driver kept his boots.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
Tests confirmed it was one of the new strains of coronavirus, similar to the PED strains now causing havoc in the U.S. hog industry that American researchers have discovered in the last several months.
“This is the first time that we now have a different sub-type that showed up here,” said Byra.
“It’s a strain that is in Iowa but it shows you that (PED) is coming in new and the biggest risk I think for Western Canada isn’t feed at this point. … The biggest risk still is going to be transport vehicles coming back home.”
Traffic between hog farms and trucks travelling to and from the United States, where PED is now endemic, have always been considered the most likely vector for spread of the virus.
It is carried in the feces of infected pigs and can travel on materials such as clothing, plastics, equipment and footwear.
However, 18 of 23 cases in Ontario hog barns, as of Feb. 28, and a single case in Prince Edward Island have been linked to feed pellets distributed by Ontario feed manufacturer Grand Valley Fortifiers.
The feed was voluntarily recalled, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues testing the feed and the dried porcine plasma ingredient thought to be the source of infection.
Grand Valley obtained the plasma from a U.S. supplier. Byra said the CFIA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trace the ingredient.
The CFIA has also tested other feed products containing porcine plasma and none have been positive for PED, Byra added. A positive test for PED does not mean the virus is live.
Dr. Julia Keenliside, a veterinary epidemiologist with Alberta Agriculture, said the tests reveal that PED is either present or was present at some point, even if it is dead.
She said the PED virus can survive for about seven days in dry feed and on dry surfaces, and can live up to 21 days in water. It can also survive freezing.
Veterinarians continue to urge thorough cleaning of transport trucks, using both detergent and disinfectant. Propylene glycol must be added in freezing temperatures to effectively clean without freezing.
Detailed instructions on truck washing, detergents, disinfectants and barn biosecurity are available on Alberta Pork’s website at www.albertapork.com.
PED affects only pigs and poses no threat to other animals or humans. Its danger lies in limiting production on hog operations because it is fatal to piglets. PED attacks the small intestine and causes diarrhea and vomiting.
Older pigs can develop immunity once exposed. There is no effective vaccine.
