With the future of the pork industry in mind, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) board of directors' June meeting included review of the organization’s mission statement and funding approval for two new projects. Additionally this month, SHIC completed and published the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay catalog for diagnostic laboratories containing information on 17 new tests developed.

New preparedness, readiness projects. “Asking the right questions is crucial, and for that reason, the board approved a proposal from Iowa State University to study if a swine health monitoring program, modeled after the poultry industry’s National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP), is feasible for the pork industry,” SHIC executive director Dr. Paul Sundberg explained.

During the study, investigators will rely on an advisory group to oversee development of a findings report.

The Iowa State study will objectively examine NPIP to see if any parts can be translated to the U.S. pork industry, SHIC said in an announcement. The project will begin with reviewing possible future industry needs for swine health assurances to protect or enhance international trade. Then, the group will consider if current programs, or a new pork NPIP-like program, could satisfy those needs in a sustainable manner.

For an answer to whether a program like NPIP is needed and feasible, questions of synergy with existing swine programs, organizations and structure, state/federal/private contributions to funding and sustainability will be considered, SHIC said.

The second study the SHIC board approved for funding was a proposal from South Dakota State University for the development of a multiplex real-time PCR and antibody reagents for the detection of swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV). Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, porcine deltacorona virus and SADS-CoV are circulating in sow herds in parts of Asia, continuing to cause significant neonatal mortality, SHIC said.

This study will arm swine disease diagnosticians at U.S. veterinary diagnostic laboratories with the ability for early detection of the recently discovered SADS-CoV that may be emerging in China.

PCR assay catalog. When porcine epidemic diarrhea virus hit the U.S. in 2013, the industry could not effectively test for it, SHIC pointed out, adding that diagnostic preparedness and readiness for possible new or emerging production diseases has been a focus of SHIC since its 2015 inception. The recent publication of the SHIC-initiated and funded "PCR Assay Catalog" for diagnostic laboratories demonstrates how far the pork industry has advanced in ability to test for emerging diseases, the announcement said.

“Early detection is critical to early response. The catalog provides diagnosticians at our veterinary diagnostic labs, who are working every day with swine health case submissions, pertinent information about the 17 new SHIC-funded PCR tests recently developed, including contact information of the experts for questions about availability and use. Additionally, the catalog summarizes the research behind the test development and covers technical background information, including sample types and analytical and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity,” Sundberg said.

The catalog is being sent to veterinary diagnostic labs and has been posted on the SHIC website to be readily available.

SHIC mission statement

During SHIC’s board meeting, industry partners including the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council and American Association of Swine Veterinarians contributed to the review of SHIC’s mission statement and discussion about proposed projects.

The board confirmed that SHIC’s mission statement continues to reflect the organization’s effort to protect the health of the U.S. swine herd, but the board also discussed ways the organization can remain flexible enough to quickly fill gaps in industry monitoring, analysis, preparedness and response to new or emerging production diseases. Keeping SHIC flexible in coordinating global and domestic disease monitoring, targeting research to answer questions in a timely manner and analyzing data helps producers and their veterinarians with quality information and new tools for early disease detection, control and response, the announcement said.

The center's official mission statement is: "The mission of the Swine Health Information Center is to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd through coordinated global disease monitoring, targeted research investments that minimize the impact of future disease threats and analysis of swine health data."

The SHIC board of directors meets monthly via conference call and semiannually in person. It is assisted by SHIC working groups, including experts specializing in swine disease monitoring, data analysis, diagnostic and program preparedness and quick disease response.