How should pig farms be managed after an epidemic occurs?
2022-01-24
Within 48 hours of the outbreak of the disease, the pig farm should implement a monitoring plan to confirm whether it is a highly pathogenic infectious disease, and quickly identify the cause through a combination of clinical observation, pathological anatomy, and laboratory testing. Infected animals, exposed animals, suspicious animals and people in hazardous locations will all be subject to varying degrees of surveillance to control and contain the spread of the disease. Preliminary monitoring of susceptible animals should be carried out with the naked eye, and once abnormality is found, laboratory testing should be carried out. Each disease with a long incubation period is checked at least three times in the investigation of suspicious farms. The monitoring of highly pathogenic infectious diseases mainly includes pig farm observation, market animals and slaughter monitoring. The following are monitored on pig farms:
1. Personnel monitoring
If the pig farm does not take appropriate biosecurity measures, the entry of foreign personnel into the pig farm will bring the risk of disease infection to the pigs. Therefore, the strict cleaning and disinfection protection system or equipment of the pig farm plays a key role in preventing the introduction of foreign pathogens into the pig farm and infected personnel. This protection mainly includes measures such as bathing, disinfection, changing of clean clothes and isolation, as well as personnel. Personal protection when handling sick and dead pigs. Pig farms must establish record files, especially during outbreaks, these records can assist veterinarians in analysis, and need to record names, contact information, recently contacted animals, etc. When sick, employees should reduce activities other than those necessary for production. Also closely monitor and understand the following groups of people: those who visit multiple farms within a day or a short period of time, interact with off-farm animals, veterinarians, service providers, equipment maintenance personnel, pig carts, feed carriers, pig products Persons who have been in contact with relevant sales personnel.
2. Vehicle monitoring
Vehicles carrying pathogens can indirectly infect susceptible animals, including foreign vehicles, feed trucks, fattening pigs, and breeding pigs. When cleaning, be sure to clean the dead corners strictly and thoroughly. Samples (cotton swabs) should be collected for vehicles that come into contact with pigs in the production area. During the inspection, the vehicles should be isolated, and the inspection results will meet the standard before entering the venue. During the outbreak of the disease, it is necessary to strictly manage vehicles and record detailed vehicle usage information.
3. Disease surveillance
During an outbreak, all pigs must be closely monitored for clinical signs similar to highly pathogenic infectious diseases to provide veterinarians with a basis for case analysis. Avoid the movement of people as much as possible. Suspected sick animals need to be isolated, and animals in the isolation area need to undergo routine tests such as serological testing and case autopsy.
4. Sample collection
When a pig farm with a high risk of infection collects samples for laboratory testing, the tissues and liquids in the samples must be handled in strict accordance with the requirements of biosafety regulations and relevant laws and regulations. Samples will be collected by professional technicians (veterinarians, animal health technicians), and as far as possible after veterinary autopsy, corresponding tissues or fluids will be obtained according to the characteristics of the disease, such as tissues in different parts, blisters, nasal swabs, saliva swabs, milk, blood sample. Blood is generally collected from the anterior vena cava, ear vein, etc. The collected samples undergo simple preliminary processing according to relevant requirements; including sample fixation, fluid (serum, whole blood, blister fluid), appropriate labeling, and packaging.
Personnel handling animals, tissues and liquids must wear protective equipment such as protective work clothing and protective gloves. If the symptoms of the disease are suspected of being zoonotic, the level of personal protective equipment should also be increased, which should include goggles, respirators, and full face shields. All equipment, transport samples, personnel used on the farm must be properly cleaned and disinfected in designated areas before leaving the farm. However, care should be taken to avoid contaminated samples such as disinfectants. Contaminated samples can easily affect the test results and lead to false negative results.
5. Sample submission
In the early stage of the outbreak, the laboratory should be contacted to jointly negotiate and issue a testing plan, provide sampling guidance, and the laboratory liaison personnel provide details related to sample submission. When a suspected highly pathogenic infectious disease is submitted for inspection, the test results must comply with the basic principles of accuracy and speed.
The collected samples must be marked correctly and in detail, and the sampling time, location, animal species, sample name, quantity, storage method, and disease status of the pig farm should be recorded in detail to provide a basis for veterinary analysis and tracing.
Samples collected in the field should be properly packaged to prevent leakage (separately sealed around each fluid tube) to prevent contamination of samples inside and outside the refrigerator. The completed test report should also be placed in a sealed plastic bag. It is recommended to use ice packs instead of ice cubes for sample transportation. At the same time, pay attention to the ambient temperature and provide enough ice packs to prevent the growth of microorganisms during the transportation of the samples, which will affect the test results.
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