Highlights

Symptoms/Transmission/Diagnosis

• SVA is a contagious virus spread by direct contact between pigs
• Symptoms closely resemble Foot and Mouth disease
  • Loss of appetite, fever, lameness, vesicle formation particularly on snout and around feet
  • Nursing piglets may also present with diarrhea
  • It is important that producers immediately report any suspicion to their herd veterinarian for proper diagnosis via PCR testing
• Symptoms can take between two to eight days to begin showing
• An infected animal can remain contagious for up to 21 days

Mortality/Recovery

• Can result in short term (7-10 day) increase in mortality for piglets <7d old (~30-70%)
• Mortality not an issue in older pigs

Prevention/Vaccination/Treatment

• Prevention via proper biosecurity practices
• Currently no vaccine available
• Depopulation, cleaning and disinfection of affected facilities may be recommended

Risk to Human Health/Food Safety?

• This disease is only infectious to swine and poses no threat to humans
• Pork products from SVA affected herds are safe to eat
• Due to potential work stoppage at the slaughterhouse, clinically affected animals must not be sent to slaughter until lesions have healed, consult with your veterinarian for a shipping plan

Federally Reportable?

No BUT it is immediately notifiable provincially in Ontario to OMAFA, usually by the herd veterinarian.