With the ever-evolving threat of influenza virus facing swine producers, the latest At The Meeting (ATM) with the Morrison Group audio program provides a review of the virus, including how it's identified, effective sampling and vaccination protocols used to protect against it.
Released in October, the program on influenza virus in swine features disease, research and practical swine health information from leading veterinary experts that swine veterinarians and producers can use to make informed decisions for their farms.
The ATM audio program is divided into three 15-20-minute segments with moderator Bob Morrison, DVM, PhD, discussing different influenza virus-related topics. In part one of the three-part audio program, Dr. Morrison talks with Marie Culhane, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota, about the naming system used to identify and discuss specific cases of influenza virus. This segment also provides historical background information regarding the virus.
"We break down the naming of specific cases of influenza virus into type, origin, location, lab number, year and subtype," Culhane says. "Within subtypes of the virus we also have clusters, all of which help guide vaccine selection and help to control the virus on farms."
Culhane notes that viruses are changing all of the time, meaning that an efficient naming system is critical to tracking variations within the virus. "All influenza viruses in any species change over time, and this one changes very quickly, at about a half percent every year."
Part one of this program on influenza virus can be accessed here.
In the second segment of the series on influenza virus, Montse Torremorell, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota, joins the group to discuss a recent study on the epidemiology of influenza in growing pigs. The group also discusses the role of nasal swab sampling in identifying the virus on farms.
According to Torremorell, the study was incredibly revealing, having found influenza in 90 percent of the 32 sites that it tested in a two-year period. Possibly more notable though was that the study detected multiple different strains of influenza circulating in the populations sampled.
"The study is a landmark that shows the wide distribution and implications of [influenza virus]," Torremorell says. "It shows the complexity of influenza in those populations, and the difficulty of controlling it."
Torremorell also discussed sampling for the virus and noted that while both oral fluids and nasal swabs are acceptable, the latter provides a more reliable, better sample that works better for sequencing.
The group later discusses the profound seasonality effect the virus has, being most prevalent in winter, and also efforts in studies taken to identify the virus in sow farms. Torremorell added that time after time studies have shown that both piglet and gilt populations are very important and responsible for maintaining and spreading flu viruses. This segment on influenza virus can be accessed here.
In the third and final segment of the ATM program, the panel of swine veterinarians, including Torremorell once again, discuss the role of vaccination in helping to protect pigs from the various strains of influenza virus. The group also discusses the future of influenza virus vaccines.
"Dr. Torremorell's work shows strongly that if you get the right strain in the vaccine, you get very good protection," Morrison says.
"But part of the problem is you have multiple subtypes within farms, and the types that are in your farm aren't necessarily in the vaccine - the commercial vaccines at least," Morrison says.
Torremorell noted that the future of influenza virus vaccine manufacturing relies on multiple factors. "We need to understand transmission and still be able to mitigate the introduction of the viruses."
More discussion from the experts on recent developments that improve our understanding of influenza virus can be accessed in the third segment at here.
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