2016-10-3: SHIC creates guidelines for central nervous system diseases
SHIC creates guidelines for central nervous system diseases
Monday, October 3rd 2016
The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) convened a cross-section of experts involved in swine disease diagnostics at the veterinary diagnostic laboratories of Iowa State University, University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University to create specific guidelines to follow for improved accuracy and efficiency in reporting diseases of unknown etiology affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Among the many possible infectious causes of CNS syndromes are various members of the virus family Picornaviridae, e.g. porcine teschovirus (PTV), porcine enteroviruses (PEV) and porcine sapelovirus (PSV), as well as atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV). Communications continue to suggest a wide range of neurologic signs possibly related to the presence of these viruses in growing pigs. These viruses are not new to the United States. Historically, cases have been reported only sporadically. There are significant knowledge gaps about the pathogenicity and epidemiology of these viruses. The diagnostic criteria and tests used by veterinary diagnostic labs should strive to be consistent to effectively monitor infection status and disease occurrence with these or other diseases. The overarching objective of SHIC is to monitor domestic diseases affecting swine health and provide reliable data to practitioners and producers that will support on-farm, prospective producer decision-making. The veterinary diagnostic labs have agreed to report the number of cases that are positive according to this set of case-defining criteria to SHIC every two weeks via email unless the incident rate indicates that more frequent reporting is needed. There will be no individual producer or veterinarian identifiers included in the reporting. More information about these viruses and information about SHIC’s financial support for additional diagnostic testing in cases where the initial diagnostic workup is unsatisfactory are posted under the Emerging Diseases tab of SHIC website, www.swinehealth.org.