Find out more about important signs of African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF), and how you can participate in the sick pig veterinary diagnostic laboratory (VDL) surveillance component here: https://z.umn.edu/ASFsickpig
Currently, the United States is free of ASF and CSF, but they would cause severe harm to swine health and our economy if introduced. ASF and CSF are difficult to detect because they can look similar to endemic diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, salmonellosis, or erysipelas.
To help protect the US from ASF and CSF, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts laboratory surveillance for both diseases through the sick pig VDL component of the Swine Hemorrhagic Fevers Integrated Surveillance Plan. At approved laboratories, cases with an approved sample type and a history, clinical signs, or necropsy findings consistent with ASF or CSF are tested for both diseases at no cost or additional effort to owners or veterinarians. Veterinarians and producers can help add an extra layer of protection for their herds by submitting any one of the following specimens to an approved diagnostic laboratory whenever submitting samples for sick pigs: spleen, spleen parenchyma swab, tonsil, lymph node, whole blood, or whole blood swab.
Recently, researchers at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Center for Animal Health and Food Safety evaluated the implementation of the sick pig VDL component at the Iowa State University (ISU) and UMN VDLs. The goal of the analysis was to describe the characteristics of ASF/CSF-tested swine submissions compared to general swine submissions and identify areas for improvement. The analysis found that both labs are operating the component at a high level. From approximately 2022-2024, they ruled out ASF and CSF in 8,354 cases from 39 different states. About 88% of cases with a compatible tissue at UMN and 64% at ISU were tested. As expected, the majority of submissions came from states with large intensive commercial populations.
Findings were reviewed with swine veterinarians and experts at the 2024 Leman Swine Conference. They felt that the results indicated that commercial swine were well-represented with limited potential for gains in sample submission and testing. Small-scale commercial farms, non-commercial farms, and mixed animal veterinarians were identified as targets for further education and outreach. Overall, this analysis supports that the sick pig VDL component is efficiently ruling out ASF and CSF in intensive commercial pigs and helping to protect the US swine industry.
