An anonymous Ontario farm is winning high praise for
promptly reporting an outbreak of TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis).
The symptoms are similar to Porcine Epidemic Virus, a new
disease that has spread to about 200 hog farms in 13 states in the United
States.
Canadians are on high-biosecurity alert for the new disease,
so swine veterinarians and industry leaders in Ontario were pleased that the
farm promptly reported the outbreak of TGE in nursing pigs.
The farm also alerted all service personnel who might come
to the farm so they could take extra precautions.
The symptoms for both diseases are similar, such as
vomiting, diarrhea and high mortality rates.
TGE was confirmed as the disease at the Ontario farm through
testing at the Animal Health Laboratory on the campus of the University of
Guelph.
TGE was once common in Ontario, but has been rare in recent
years because immunity develops when pigs are sick with Porcine Respiratory
Corona Virus which is much less severe and has been widespread in Ontario.
The recent handling of an outbreak of TGE is an excellent example of how to respond to unusual clinical signs in a swine herd,” says a joint news release from the Ontario Pork Industry Council, the Ontario Swine Health Advisory Board, the Ontario Pork marketing board, the Ontario Association Swine Veterinarians and the Canadian Swine Health Board.
“The owner’s actions ensured an accurate and timely
diagnosis, proper treatment and protected other herds from disease spread,”
they say.
“Such a prompt and conscientious response is particularly
important if an Ontario herd breaks with PED,” they say.
