Swine Disease
Swine Dysentery (Bloody Scours); Recognition and Awareness, Diagnosis, Transmission and Clinical Signs
Publish Date: June 13, 2022
Swine dysentery (SD or bloody scours), once one of the most expensive swine diseases, largely disappeared in North America in the 1990’s with three site production and improved hygiene, among other changes in swine industry structure. However, since the early 2000s, SD has re-emerged in swine operations in portions of the U.S. and several Canadian provinces. SD is an intestinal bacterial disease that is very expensive to treat and control medically. It is very difficult to completely eliminate once pigs and facilities are contaminated. SD can be spread by infected swine, rodents and other animals in contact with infected swine as well as any fecal material on equipment or clothing. Biosecurity practices are effective at reducing the exposure risks and, when properly implemented, will prevent or slow the spread of this disease (and other diseases) between farms. Please see the Pork Information Gateway Factsheet, “Steps for Treatment, Control and Elimination of Swine Dysentery” for more information.
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Control and Elimination of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus
Publish Date: April 13, 2012
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome emerged as a new syndrome in the US swine population more than two decades ago (Keffaber, 1989). After its initial description, the disease was identified rather quickly in many countries throughout the world. In 1992 the virus was isolated in the US and also in 1992 the consensus decision at the International Symposium on Swine Infertility and Respiratory Syndrome (SIRS) held in St. Paul, MN was made to refer to the syndrome as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and the virus as PRRS virus (PRRSv). PRRSv has been documented to mutate constantly by changing its genetic appearance (Murtaugh et al. 1995) which presents an important challenge for herd level and regional control.
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