Biosecurity is back at the top of the checklist for U.S. hog producers after routine testing detected antibodies to pseudorabies virus in a small Iowa commercial swine herd in late April. Antibodies found in Iowa was the trigger for an APHIS trace that identified the source of five affected boars. The detection came from routine surveillance rather than clinical outbreak reporting, underscoring the value of ongoing testing programs.
Initial traceback showed the five boars moved into the Iowa facility originated at an outdoor operation in Texas, and subsequent testing found additional positives in that Texas herd. Boars traced to Texas highlights the transmission risk associated with animal movements and with herds that have outdoor access or are near feral hog populations. The case illustrates how a single movement can reveal wider herd-level infection when surveillance is active.
Pseudorabies is caused by a herpesvirus that primarily affects swine but can also infect cattle, sheep, goats, cats and dogs; there are no food-safety concerns for pork. Producers should watch young pigs for central nervous system signs such as tremors, seizures, hind-leg paralysis, recumbency, paddling and sudden death. In adult pigs, watch for coughing, fever, pneumonia and reproductive problems including abortions, stillbirths and small litters.
Biosecurity steps
Producers should intensify herd observation and follow the “If You See Something, Say Something” approach in barns, reporting suspect cases to their herd veterinarian or state animal health official. Maintain a close working relationship with your veterinarian and, when moving animals, source from validated-qualified herds to reduce risk. Endemic in feral swine remains a central challenge, so limiting contact between commercial herds and wild or outdoor swine is critical.
Control of feral swine and careful management of outdoor operations are essential where those populations exist; outdoor facilities face higher exposure risk from wild pigs. Before bringing new animals onto a farm, verify the seller’s health status and test results rather than relying solely on verbal assurances. APHIS and state animal health officials recommend routine testing and clear documentation for all incoming breeding stock.
Producer resources
For guidance, consult the Swine Health Information Center’s pseudorabies fact sheet and your state department of agriculture releases or APHIS updates. Contact your herd veterinarian or state veterinarian for testing and reporting procedures. Producers should confirm validated-qualified (VQ) status before introducing pigs to their herds to reduce the chance of introducing pseudorabies.
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