PRRS and PEDv testing
Tests to determine whether PRRS or PEDv is in the herd of origin must be approved by the department and provide 90% confidence that the disease would be identified if present at 30% prevalence in the herd. This means for herds with less than 30 swine, one pooled sample of at least five swine, or swine available if less than five, must be collected and tested. For herds with 30 or more swine, three pooled samples of at least five swine must be collected and tested.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal statutes and regulations
Current federal regulations require reporting of swine enteric corona diseases including PED.
Comparison with Rules in Adjacent states
Similar to other Midwestern states, Wisconsin has established programs for historically important diseases, such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and chronic wasting disease. Wisconsin would be the first to establish testing requirements for PRRS and PEDv when moving swine in order to prevent and control these diseases. Surrounding states have no PRRS or PEDv testing requirements in place for moving swine.
PRRS and PEDv have proven to be costly, highly contagious diseases among pigs and can result in tremendous production losses for swine producers.
Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a virus that is also known as blue-ear pig disease. This economically important, panzootic disease causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs. Clinical signs include dramatic reproductive losses, increased pneumonia, and reduced pig growth.
An “Assessment of the Economic Impact of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus on United States Pork Producers,”created by the Iowa State University and published in the Journal of Swine Health and Production, in 2013, compiled data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a survey of swine veterinarians on the incidence and impact of PRRS, and production records from commercial farms with known PRRS status. Animal-level economic impact of productivity losses and other costs attributed to PRRS were estimated using an enterprise budgeting approach and extrapolated to the national level on the basis of the US breeding herd inventory, number of pigs marketed, and number of pigs imported for growing. The total cost of productivity losses due to PRRS in the US national breeding and growing-pig herd was estimated at $664 million annually, an increase from the $560 million annual cost estimated in 2005.
According to a February 16, 2016, article from the Scientific American,
“One of the worst things that can happen to a pig farmer is a pen infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). It emerged in the 1980s, and the syndrome now afflicts these hoofed animals worldwide, causing illness, death and miscarriage. In fact, it has been designated the most economically significant disease for swine, costing livestock producers in North America $600 million annually from deaths and medical treatments. Vaccinations have mostly failed to prevent the syndrome's spread.”
Similar to PRRS, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) has a substantial economic burden given that it is highly infectious, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in piglets.
PEDv is a coronavirus that affects swine, causing diarrhea and vomiting, and death of 50-100 percent of infected piglets. Adult pigs can become infected and lose weight after being infected but generally do not have mortality. PEDv has persisted and spread, and now has been detected in 36 states. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has deemed PEDv a reportable disease.
Wisconsin’s swine production ranks 19th in the nation, supports more than 5,000 jobs and produces more than $136 million in annual income. Given these factors, it is important that these diseases are controlled as they can seriously affect the state’s hog production industry.
This proposed rule is industry driven and based on several meetings with and requested changes made by the PRRS/PEDv Eradication Task Force. The proposed rule has been approved by the Wisconsin Pork Association.
Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Analysis
Division staff met several times with the Wisconsin Pork Association’s PRRS/PEDv Eradication Task Force to develop the contents of this proposed rule. The task force is comprised of veterinarians, pork producers representing a variety of Wisconsin farms, and other industry representatives. Many of the small business fiscal effects were discussed and determined at those meetings.
Effect on Small Business
The majority of the costs associated with this proposed rule will be the testing of swine for PRRS and PED prior to movement. If the producer moves swine on a regular basis, at most, such testing would be done on a quarterly basis (testing must be done within 90 days before movement). The movement of and number of swine in the herd will be the greatest factors in determining cost.
The number of swine to be sampled to provide 90% confidence that the disease would be identified if present at 30% prevalence in a herd is as follows:
• For herds with less than 30 swine−1 pooled sample of 5 swine.
• For herds with 30 or more swine−3 pooled samples of at least 5 swine.
Testing can be done by hanging a cotton rope (from a rope test kit) in a group of pigs to collect saliva, and does not require an on-farm visit from the veterinarian. The samples can be collected by the farm owner under the direction of a veterinarian, but must be submitted through an accredited veterinarian to a diagnostics lab. If using a rope test, up to 30 swine can be tested at one time. A single rope test kit costs $5.25. The rope test kit can be used to sample the swine for both PRRS and PED. For herds with less than 30 swine, only 1 rope test kit is needed to collect samples for the herd. For herds with 30 or more swine, 3 rope test kits with samples from 3 groups of at least 5 swine per group must be collected.
The samples may be submitted to Iowa State University or the University of Minnesota for testing. The submission fee for either university is $10, regardless of the number of samples submitted.
Iowa State University charges $25 for the PRRSv using the PCR test and $25 for the PEDv using the PCR test. University of Minnesota charges $30.80 for the PRRSv using the PCR test and $33 for the PEDv using the PCR test. This fee includes a 10% out-of-state surcharge.
In addition, the veterinary clinic that submits the samples typically charges a shipping and handling fee. Based on samples submitted during last summer’s fairs, shipping and handling fees ranged from $7 and $13.50.
Minimum costs to test a small herd for PRRS and PEDv would be $72.25 and a large herd would be $182.75, determined as follows:
| Less than 30 swine (1 pooled sample) | 30 or more swine (3 pooled samples) |
Rope test kit for PRRSv and/or PEDv | $5.25 | $15.75 |
PCR test for PRRSv | 25.00 | 75.00 |
PCR test for PEDv | 25.00 | 75.00 |
Shipping & handling | 7.00 | 7.00 |
The proposed rule allows a producer to collect samples under the direction of a veterinarian. Additional costs may be incurred if the producer chooses to have a veterinarian collect the samples. These costs are indeterminate.
The entities that may be affected by this rule modification include veterinarians and swine producers. To assist veterinarians in this process, sample herd plans will be provided.
Environmental Impact
This rule does not have an environmental impact.
Standards Incorporated by Reference
None.
Department Contact
Loretta Slauson, Program and Planning Analyst
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
P. O. Box 8911
Madison, WI 53708-8911
Telephone (608) 224-4890
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Section 1. ATCP 10.291 is created to read:
ATCP 10.291 Swine porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: testing and control. (1) WHO MAY COLLECT TEST SAMPLE. A person who collects a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus test sample, for purposes of this chapter or ch. ATCP 12, shall be one of the following: (a) An accredited veterinarian and, if the accredited veterinarian collects the test sample from swine in this state, a Wisconsin certified veterinarian.
(b) A person working under the direction of a veterinarian under par. (a), provided that the veterinarian submits the sample for testing.
(c) An authorized employee or agent of the department or the federal bureau.
(2) TEST PROCEDURE. A test and test strategy used to determine whether the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is in the herd of origin shall be approved by the department and shall provide 90% confidence that the disease would be identified if present at 30% prevalence in the herd, as follows:
(a) For herds with less than 30 swine, one pooled sample of at least five swine or total number of swine available if less than five, must be collected and tested.
(b) For herds with 30 or more swine, three pooled samples of at least five swine must be collected and tested.
Note: Testing for both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus can be done by hanging a cotton rope from a rope test kit in a group of swine to collect a pooled sample of those swine.
(3) REPORTING TEST RESULTS. A person under sub. (1) who collects porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus samples from swine in this state shall report any positive test results to the department and the swine owner.
(4) QUARANTINE. (a) The department may quarantine swine whenever the department reasonably suspects that the swine may be infected with or exposed to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome or the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. The department may quarantine all swine located on the premises. The quarantine shall comply with s. ATCP 10.89. (b) The department may release a quarantine under par. (a) if a herd plan under par. (5) is completed by a Wisconsin certified, accredited, licensed veterinarian on behalf of the swine owner and the plan is approved by the department.
