Pseudorabies found in swine herds in Iowa, Texas according to APHIS
Secretary Naig issues statement on USDA confirmation of pseudorabies in swine herds in Iowa and Texas
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on April 30 issued a statement after the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced confirmed cases of the pseudorabies virus in swine herds in Iowa and Texas.
The small commercial swine facility in Iowa received swine from a Texas herd in recent months. The Texas herd was housed outdoors with potential contact to feral swine. Though pseudorabies was eliminated from U.S. commercial swine herds in 2004, pseudorabies is still found in wild or feral swine populations, which remain a potential threat of exposure for domestic pigs.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed via ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and latex agglutination testing a detection of antibodies to pseudorabies virus, according to APHIS. This confirmation was a result of routine testing, not pre-movement surveillance.
“Based on the confirmation of the pseudorabies virus in a small commercial swine herd in Iowa, we are moving decisively to eliminate the disease,” Naig said. “The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has spent years preparing for these types of animal health events, and we have a strong, capable team in place to respond.”
Initial traceback indicates that the five affected boars came from an outdoor facility in Texas. Animals from that herd also tested positive for pseudorabies. APHIS is working with officials in Iowa and Texas to expand traceback efforts and identify any additional potential exposures.
Naig expressed appreciation for the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Diagnostic Laboratory, pork producers and industry partners for working together on this coordinated response.
“Iowa’s hardworking farmers lead the nation in pork production. It’s important for people to know that pseudorabies is not a food safety concern, and this virus does not pose a risk to consumers,” he said. “The United States’ pork supply remains safe and secure, and we are committed to protecting animal health.”
This marks the first known case of pseudorabies in commercial swine since 2004, when it was eradicated from the commercial swine industry. PRV is still prevalent in feral swine populations in the U.S. and there is occasional spillover of infection to outdoor production herds where contact with feral swine is possible. APHIS is working closely with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Texas Animal Health Commission to conduct traceback to better understand the detection and prevent further spread.
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
