SHIC-Funded Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report Accomplishments Continue

December 20, 2023 — Paul Sundberg

The Swine Health Information Center's Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report began with the goal of providing aggregated endemic swine pathogen PCR detection statistics to inform the US pork industry on disease trends and prevalence. The Swine Disease Reporting System database used for the report is populated with information from participating veterinary diagnostic labs and shared in monthly PDF and audio (podcast) reports as well as via a live, interactive online dashboard. A recent renewal by SHIC funds the program through September 2024.

Since the inception of the Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Reports, the number of pathogens tracked and participating veterinary diagnostic labs have grown. PCR detection data on PRRSV, PEDV, PDCoV, TGEV, IAV, PCV2, MHP, and a new addition, PCV3, along with additional data for PRRSV RFLP and Lineage classification based on ORF5 sequencing are included. Additionally, ISU VDL-only confirmed tissue disease diagnosis from porcine submissions is incorporated in the monthly reports and interactive dashboards which are updated daily. Data for SDRS comes from the original participating veterinary diagnostic labs at Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University, Kansas State University and now includes data from the Ohio Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory, and, added in 2023, Purdue University's Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory. All the data shared with the SDRS is submitter, producer, veterinarian, VDL client, and, after aggregation, VDL is anonymized. Diagnostic tests and test result data are used to compile the SDRS information. SHIC posts the monthly reports on its website and shares them in its monthly newsletter as well. Links to the SDRS audio (podcast) reports are also found on the SHIC website.

The SDRS team at Iowa State University produces related educational digital multimedia content. The educational material is developed for the main SDRS charts contained in the PDF report, and provides information on interpretation of the charts and using the main findings of the month. Videos are posted on the SDRS website with direct access through links in the PDF report.

The channel for the SDRS report distribution has increased the number of visualizations on all the platforms. A total of 340 subscribers from 151 organizations have signed up to receive the reports in their email inboxes. The PDF report reaches seven countries, and since the implementation of the podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, and Google podcast), the audio report has been listened to in 36 different countries. The SDRS report is also distributed through video format on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, accumulating over 20,000 views in these social media platforms.

The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the U.S. swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org or Dr. Megan Niederwerder at mniederwerder@swinehealth.org.

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Paul Sundberg, Executive Director, Swine Health Information Center