Practitioners Play a Key Role in USDA CSF Surveillance Program

March 28, 2007 — Mike Senn

The USDA Classical Swine Fever (CSF) Surveillance Program utilizes tonsil specimens from swine diagnostic lab cases in the U.S. and provides a $50 diagnostic lab credit to veterinarians submitting eligible tonsil samples which are tested for CSF. This program incentive is available at participating National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) diagnostic laboratories. A complete list of participating labs is available on the NAHLN website.

All tonsil samples sent to a participating NAHLN laboratory in or from these states are eligible to be tested with the exception of Iowa and Minnesota. Due to the large number of swine cases submitted to the diagnostic labs in Minnesota and Iowa, tonsil samples from these states will be submitted for CSF surveillance if at least one of the following additional criteria is present:

? abortions, congenital deformities,
? dramatic acute septicemias,
? dermatitis or nephritis (PDNS),
? undiagnosed CNS cases or
? other undefined cases the pathologist wishes to submit.

This ongoing surveillance program was initiated in 2006 with 2093 practitioner- submitted tonsils tested for CSF virus through the diagnostic laboratory surveillance stream. This is a crucial surveillance stream within the CSF Surveillance Program, and practitioners are encouraged to always submit tonsils with their diagnostic specimens. Practitioners are also encouraged to indicate on the diagnostic lab submission form that a tonsil specimen is included as this will make it more likely that the tonsil will be selected and tested in this surveillance program.

Any questions regarding this program can be directed to the program manager at USDA-APHIS-VS-NCAHP, David Pyburn (515-284-4122 or David.G.Pyburn@aphis.usda.gov).

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Mike Senn, Chair AASV FAD Committee