Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Reviving post-mortem diagnostics as a tool to increase porcine herd health and strengthen early detection of pig diseases - the PathoPig project 2014-2016.
- Journal:
- Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Schediwy, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Animal Pathology
Plain-English summary
In Switzerland, there has been a significant decline in the number of pigs undergoing post-mortem examinations, which are important for diagnosing diseases and improving herd health. To address this, a project called PathoPig was launched in 2014, providing financial support for these examinations in farms experiencing health issues. Over three years, the number of necropsies increased by 195%, and in 74% of cases, a specific cause of illness was found. Veterinarians then made tailored recommendations based on these findings, and a follow-up survey showed that 90% of the farms that followed these recommendations saw improvements in their herd health. Overall, the project was successful in enhancing the health of pig herds in Switzerland.
Abstract
Post-mortem diagnostics are an important tool for disease diagnosis and therefore early detection of (re-)emerging animal diseases and zoonoses as well as nationwide disease surveillance programs. To counteract the decline of porcine necropsies in Switzerland over the last ten years, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) launched a national project in 2014 called PathoPig. Post-mortem examinations of pigs from herds with health problems were financially supported by the FSVO. During the first 3 years of the project, the number of pig necropsies increased by 195% (mean). An underlying cause of disease was identified in 74% of the cases. These findings resulted in specific recommendations by the attending veterinarians or by the Swiss Porcine Health Service. A follow-up survey revealed that herd health had improved in 90% of the farms implementing the recommendations.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29905161/