Producers across Canada are warned to watch for the recurrence of an old virus that has started cropping up in northern regions of the United States.
Incidents of Seneca Valley virus, which mimics foot and mouth disease, have been showing up in the northern areas of the Midwest, near the US-Canada border, Red Deer swine veterinarian Egan Brockhoff told delegates attending the Alberta Pork Annual General meeting in Calgary on Nov. 5.
Although the virus has not been detected in Alberta, the United States Department of Agriculture has suggested that the virus has originated in sow herds in Ontario and Manitoba, said Brockhoff.
Investigation has not unturned any virus in Canada so far, but the possibility should raise some concerns here, said Brockhoff, outlining four reasons for his statement.
* Seneca Valley virus will kill some pigs/ piglets and causes blistering around the nose, lameness and diarrhea in older animals.

* An outbreak will cause interruptions in the market.

* Vesticles on the nose and lameness will limit production.

* Testing is now available through Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to ensure that any disease detected in the herd is indeed Seneca Valley virus and not foot and mouth disease.

“We’re going to find the thing most likely in assembly yards and assembly plants,” said Brockhoff. That means new rules regarding trucks coming back to Canada will not have an impact on transmission of the disease.
“This virus will most likely move through manure,” he said.
“Be vigilant with your bio-security. How this virus moves is not completely understood, but all of the hard work that you guys have done to keep PED out is probably going to help us keep this virus out as well.”
Brockhoff said more information will come as veterinarians and researchers develop more understanding of the disease.  •
— By PHC Staff