Diagnostic investigation of porcine periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome: lack of compelling evidence linking to common porcine pathogens.

Porcine periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS), an increasingly recognized syndrome in the swine industry of North America, is characterized by the anorexia of nursery pigs noticeable within 1 week of weaning, and progressive loss of body condition and lethargy during the next 1-2 weeks. Morbidity caused by PFTS is moderate, but case fatality is high. The etiology of PFTS is presently unknown and may include infectious agent(s), noninfectious factors, or both.

Multiple porcine circovirus 2-associated abortions and reproductive failure in a multisite swine production unit.

Porcine circovirus type 2 was detected in several stillborn and nonviable neonatal piglets presenting with chronic passive congestion, cardiac hypertrophy, and severe diffuse myocarditis. The presence of the virus in the heart and other tissues of affected piglets was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and virus isolation techniques. Other reproductive losses and associated infectious agents in the herd are discussed.

Assessment of worker exposure to airborne molds in honeybee overwintering facilities.

Airborne fungi in honeybee overwintering and equipment cleaning facilities were enumerated and identified to determine worker exposure during cleaning and routine beekeeping operations. Testing was prompted by observations of extensive mold growth on dead bees and associated material and by results of a preliminary study at one Alberta beekeeping facility that showed very high numbers of mold colonies on air samples taken during worker activity. To evaluate whether high mold counts were indicative of a problem at a single site or were industry wide, approximately 120 air samples were collected with a Reuter centrifugal sampler inside 10 overwintering facilities before and during routine beekeeping activity during fall, winter, and spring periods.