0
Pig farmers’ veterinary surgeons are being given a helping hand to diagnose an important pig disease which can have serious economic effects on a pig herd.
Swine flu can be difficult to diagnose and is not always obvious as its presence may be masked by other concurrent diseases. Hysolv Animal Health is offering a new laboratory diagnostic service for the UK and Irish vets which will enable them to send samples away to a specialist institute and laboratory in Germany, where the disease and type of virus involved can be pinpointed.
The cost of the screening work is being covered by international pharmaceutical and vaccine company, IDT Biologika.
“Farmers may not be aware that their pigs have swine flu but may notice such symptoms as an increase in abortions, increased mortality in piglets and a reduction in finishing herd performance, so veterinary advice on the best approach to the problem is important.” said Hysolv director Richard Brealey. “We strongly advise farmers to speak to their vet if they see such signs.”
Hysolv will support vets with two different tests. Firstly, virological tests and, secondly, serological screening for antibody titres against H1N1,H1N2,H3N2, panH1N1 and pan H1N2 will be looked for. Tests will be carried out by the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health and IVD (Innovative Veterinary Laboratories) in Germany.
Swine flu in the UK is seen as a potential threat to both pig and human health as novel virus strains with greater infectivity and virulence are evolving, according to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Such tests, apart from post mortem examination, can provide the only conclusive proof of influenza infection.
Swine flu has caused pandemics in the human population and is widespread among the world’s pig herds. A study involving a 260-sow herd with finishing pigs showed that swine flu cost more than 28,000 Euros (about £19,700) over a 12-month period.
