USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact:  Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

FERAL SWINE DOMINATE PSEUDORABIES COMMITTEE AGENDA

	HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 9, 2005 - Although there is no pseudorabies infection in U.S. 
domestic swine, the disease exists in feral swine and this fact dominated discussions at the 
meeting of the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) Pseudorabies Committee here this 
week.

      Four instances of infection were found in feral swine in 2005.  A "transitional" herd in 
Louisiana was detected through slaughter surveillance.  It was tested and destroyed.  Some 
captured feral swine in Arizona seized by state officials at a "hog/dog fight" were found to be 
positive for the disease and destroyed.  Two herds in Louisiana were found on slaughter 
surveillance.  One owner had only one hog; the second owner had two.  All three animals were 
captive feral pigs.  They were slaughtered; no hogs remain on the farms.

	The committee was told that feral swine continue to spread into the Midwest (Iowa, 
Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska) and the Northeast (Pennsylvania and New Jersey).  The 
committee recommended that surveillance programs for pseudorabies and swine brucellosis be 
targeted at commercial swine that originate from geographic areas were feral swine exist.  
Surveillance in commercial swine from other areas of the country should be limited to levels 
sufficient to demonstrate absence of disease consistent with international trade requirements.

      A video presentation, "Mission Accomplished: Eradication of Pseudorabies Virus in the 
United States," was shown at the committee meeting.  The video was produced by the National 
Institute of American Agriculture (NIAA) through a grant from Veterinary Services of USDA’s 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  Copies are available in DVD or VHS 
format at no cost by contacting NIAA at (270) 782-9798 or niaa@animalagriculture.org.

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