The Ontario Animal Health Network: enhancing disease surveillance and information sharing through integrative data sharing and management.

The Ontario Animal Health Network (OAHN) is an innovative disease surveillance program created to enhance preparedness, early detection, and response to animal disease in Ontario. Laboratory data and, where available, abattoir condemnation data and clinical observations submitted by practicing veterinarians form the core of regular discussions of the species-sector networks. Each network is comprised of government veterinarians or specialists, epidemiologists, pathologists, university species specialists, industry stakeholders, and practicing veterinarians, as appropriate.

Outbreak investigation of porcine epidemic diarrhea in swine in Ontario.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus was first diagnosed in Ontario in January of 2014. An outbreak investigation was conducted and it was hypothesized that feed containing spray-dried porcine plasma contaminated with the virus was a risk factor in the introduction and spread of the disease in Ontario.

Actinobacillus equuli as a primary pathogen in breeding sows and piglets.

The death of over 300 sows in 2 months on a 3000 sow farrow-to-isowean operation in Manitoba was attributed to infection with Actinobacillus equuli. This pathogen commonly infects foals, and is rarely reported in swine. Our report is the second recently published case of this pathogen in North American swine.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection in swine herds, Manitoba, Canada.

In Manitoba, Canada, several swine herds were infected by pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in the summer of 2009. Results of several investigations concluded that outbreaks of infection with this virus are similar in duration to outbreaks of infections with swine influenza viruses A (H1N1) and A (H3N2).

Isolated weaning technology: humane benefits and concerns in the production of pork.

The age at which piglets are separated from the sow has been identified as an animal welfare risk in current swine production systems. Animal welfare gains of a minimal disease state must be objectively balanced against the welfare costs of early weaning. Veterinary practitioners should continue to participate in the development and validation of humane animal production methods.

Spatial epidemiology of an H3N2 swine influenza outbreak.

The H3N2 swine influenza virus appeared for the 1st time in the province of Manitoba during the fall of 2004. The purpose of this study was to characterize how swine influenza moved through the province in time and space, and to determine if there are any significant patterns associated with this movement. Herds with outbreaks of H3N2 swine influenza were located by using a Geographic Information System and analyzed by using spatial analysis software.

Relationship between group A porcine rotavirus and management practices in swine herds in Ontario.

A case-control epidemiological study was conducted to determine whether an increased diagnostic rate for group A rotavirus in swine herds in Ontario was associated with specific management factors. The number of new herds tested per year and the proportion of new positive herds increased between 1994 and 1997. Herd size was larger and weaning age was younger in rotavirus-positive herds compared with rotavirus-negative herds.