Farmscape for March 31, 2022

Researchers with the University of Minnesota have compared the value of tongue tip fluids to other well characterised sampling methods for diagnosing a variety of diseases in growing pigs.
The University of Minnesota, with funding provided by the Swine Health Information Center, has concluded a study to determine whether tongue tip fluids can aid in the detection of key pathogens affecting swine during grow-finish.
SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton explains tongue tips are collected post mortem and the fluids from those samples are then used for diagnostic testing.

Clip-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center:
Tongue tip fluids are a relatively new sample type and, when a new sample type comes about, it is important to be able to assess and analyse that sample against other know samples that we consider gold standard or samples that are very well characterised.
So, the objectives were to evaluate and compare known samples like blood or oral fluids, nasal swabs against this newer sample of tongue tip fluids and how well they can detect pathogens like PED or PRRS.
Two different farms were utilized for collection of samples for specific diseases and then we compare the effectiveness of tongue tip fluids against other samples for detection of diseases.
In this instance two farms were utilized.
Three different ages of pigs were sampled, so that was five weeks of age, 11 weeks and 15 weeks of age.
The tongue tip fluids were collected also with blood, oral fluids, nasal swabs and rectal swabs and they were tested and assessed for PRRS, PED, Circovirus, Ileitis, Influenza and Porcine parvovirus.

Dr. Becton says most of the pathogens were detected by tongue top fluids during each of the three different age categories but, when assessing results, it is important to note they can represent environmental contamination so it's critical to distinguish between environmental contamination versus actual infection.
For more visit swinehealth.org or Farmscape.Ca.
Bruce Cochrane.

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