Results of a pseudorabies eradication program on swine breeding farms

Jen-Chieh Chang

Abstract

The Council of Agriculture initiated a pseudorabies (PR) eradication program on swine breeding farms in 2011. To support the program, the Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI) proceeded to monitor the titers of PR gE antibodies in breeding pigs, and the data was shared with the PR-free swine breeding farm certification committee. The average rates of positive gE antibody occurrence were 1% to 7% in recent years and were significantly decreased from rates as high as 24% in 2011. Currently, 12 PR-free swine breeding farms have been approved by the certification committee. Some swine breeding farms took active policy measures and kept following the PR eradication program after the initial participation. In fact these farms had better PR gE antibody levels and were even certified as PR-free swine breeding farms. These results highlight the successes of the PR eradication program, as well as the importance/value in continuously monitoring PR antibodies. Ultimately, this program will help to provide PR-free breeding pigs to downstream pig farms and for export, as well as continue to monitor antibody levels and swine breeding farms PR conditions.

Phylogenic analysis of avian influenza viruses in Taiwan and a report on a visit to the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in the USA.

Li-Hsuan Chen

Abstract

Five groups derived from an avian influenza outbreak in Taiwan in early 2015 (H5N2, H5N3, H5N8/TW GO, H5N8/TW G1, H5N8/TW G2) were identified and classified based on 8 genetic segments. Twenty-one strains of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses were selected for hemagglutinin (HA) gene analysis based on different subtypes, species and distribution in 2017. At least 3 subgroups (H5N2, H5N8/TW G1 and H5N8/TW G2) were detected on poultry farms in 2017, and the HA genes showed diversity over time. Two reassortants of the H5N2 and H5N8/TW G1 subgroup viruses were identified containing nucleoprotein (NP) and non-structural protein (NS) segments from Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) . Two of our staff members from the Division of Epidemiology visited the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in December of 2017. The purpose of the visit was to share technical experiences in the molecular epidemiological analysis of avian influenza virus and the organization of biocontainment facilities for poultry. The final aims of the project are to guide and share experiences for further development of avian influenza diagnostic techniques as well as to establish a basis for fruitful cooperation between Taiwan and USDA in this vital field.