Dr. Tanja Opriessnig - Announcements
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ISU VDL seeking cases of erysipelas in swine
Diversity of Erysipelothrix found in swine is not well studied. Dr. Opriessnig, et al, from Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory are seeking to investigate cases of erysipelas from either pigs that have been previously vaccinated or from market swine that may have individual animals condemned at slaughter.
Should you become aware of such, please contact Dr. Tanja Opriessnig tanjaopr@iastate.edu at Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (515-294-1950).
The diagnostic work-up to confirm or rule out Erysipelothrix will be performed at no charge. Please share this with your colleagues as well.
We are seeking cases of mulberry heart disease
The mulberry heart syndrome investigation team has created a submission form outlining proper tissue collection and diagnostic submission. According to the project protocol, any clinical mulberry heart submissions should contain the tissue samples listed on the submission form for each animal submitted (example: pig A, pig B, etc…). Please keep each animal separate during shipment to the diagnostic lab, any pooling of samples will be completed at the lab. Please use the Mulberry Heart Syndrome Investigation submission form. This form should be used and filled out for each animal submitted to the Mulberry Heart Syndrome Investigation, please do not have more than one animal per form. If you have other diagnostic submissions, please continue to use the normal ISU VDL submission form.
If you have any questions contact Dr. Steve Ensley or Dr. Tanja Opriessnig at the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory.
Dr. Steve Ensley sensley@iastate.edu
515-294-1950
Dr. Tanja Opriessnig
tanjaopr@iastate.edu
515-294-1950
We are seeking cases of PCV2-associated reproductive failure
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2 has been associated with many disease entities including wasting, pneumonia, and diarrhea in growing pigs and reproductive failure in breeding animals. Recently, our group has completed several studies looking at the reproductive manifestation of PCV2 in mature females. We have discovered that intrauterine inoculation of PCV2 at the time of insemination results in viremia in the dam and in utero infection of the piglets. Interestingly, we observed a high percentage of piglets that were born with no clinical signs but they were viremic for PCV2 (presuckle) and at necropsy had IHC staining of PCV2 antigen in lymphoid and myocardial tissue. We have recently received additional funding to further investigate our previous findings and would like your help to determine the prevalence of PCV2 viremia and persistent infection in conventional piglets at birth. We hypothesize that a percentage of live-born piglets are viremic at birth due to in utero infection and these animals may be a source of transmission to other pigs in the nursery phase and/or develop clinical PCVAD in the growing phase. We are asking for your help to identify sow farms that can be included in this study. For inclusion, sow farms must not vaccinate or have previously vaccinated sows for PCV2 and there is evidence of PCVAD in down stream flows. Once farms are identified a short survey needs to be completed and diagnostic samples need to be collected from 100 piglets and 25 sows. Funding is available for testing all the samples that are collected and you would receive results from your particular farm. We would need you, a technician, or farm staff to collect the samples and send them to Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for testing. Your interest in PCV2 and help with this project would to better determine the prevalence of PCV2 viremic piglets in conventional sow farms is greatly appreciated. Please contact us if you are interested.
