The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) and American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) will host a webinar on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) strain 1-4-4 which is making a notable appearance in veterinary diagnostic lab data. The webinar will be held on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, from 1:00-2:30 pm. Registration is now open.

Dr. Mariana Kikuti of the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Giovani Trevisan, with the Swine Disease Reporting System at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Stephanie Rossow, with the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, will present perspectives on PRRS 1-4-4.

The increase in PRRS 1-4-4 diagnoses was noticed during review of the monthly SHIC Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report, to be published in early February. Advisory committee members who review the reports before posting called the strain’s appearance relevant, noting changes seem to be increased viremia levels and clinical severity. The virus also seems to be very fit for area spread, they cautioned, also saying temperatures and environmental conditions are right for increased spread, enhancing the risk of PRRS 1-4-4 outbreaks. Advisory committee members remarked this strain seems to have very similar sow farm signs, as well as in downstream pigs, while it appears to require a prolonged time to stabilize sow units with an outbreak of PRRS 1-4-4.

Dr. Kikuti will share information on the PRRS 1-4-4 outbreak using data from the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project as early warnings were communicated to participants in December 2020 to begin an epidemiological investigation. Data summarizing case occurrence in time and space together with sequence similarity characterizing the outbreak will be shared. Dr. Trevisan will share information on PRRSV genetic variability over time and across regions using the Swine Disease Reporting System database, highlighting the changes on RFLP 1-4-4 detected during 2020, emphasizing the perception of the Swine Disease Reporting System advisory committee members. Dr. Rossow will share diagnostic information gained from University of Minnesota veterinary diagnostic lab work with practitioners who are seeing outbreaks of this virus.

SHIC/AASV sponsored webinars bring together subject matter experts to discuss current issues facing U.S. pork producers and practitioners. Past topics have included viral myelitis, tracheitis, coccidiosis, lameness/arthritis, and porcine astrovirus type 3. Conducted by the Iowa State University Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC), webinar participants include practitioners with first-hand experience with the topic being discussed, diagnosticians, and other experts.

As the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, SHIC continues to focus efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response to novel and emerging swine disease for the benefit of U.S. swine health.