Biotech Threat Puts Hog Producers on Edge

LANSING - Sep 19/02 - MFB -- Pork producers are encouraged to review biosecurity on their farms and be on the lookout for signs of a deadly hog bacterium following last week's theft of research samples from a Michigan State University (MSU) laboratory.

Sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning, research materials, including small samples of bacteria used to develop swine vaccines, were taken from the Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building. The stolen material is Actinobacilllus pleuropneumoniae, or APP, a bacterium in swine that can cause serious respiratory infection in young pigs, encephalitis and rapid pig mortality.

The bacterium is not a threat to humans, either by direct contact with the agent or by eating meat from an infected animal. APP, however, is of concern to the pork industry, which is why MSU has been working to develop vaccines to protect swine and why the theft prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the National Pork Board to issue a precautionary advisory to hog producers in Michigan and throughout the country.

"There are no known reports of APP," said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) livestock specialist. "But hog producers and veterinarians should pay specific attention to swine populations and be alert to any unusual symptoms in pigs, such as encephalitis, acute pneumonia and sudden death."

Birchmeier stressed that rapid diagnosis is critical to minimizing the bacteria's impact since the disease can be treated with injectable antibiotics. Vaccines are also available as a preventative measure.

While MSU Police Chief Jim Dunlap said there is no indication that the theft was related to political activism, Birchmeier advises all hog farmers to evaluate their security measures. "That could be as simple as checking door locks and making sure facilities are properly lit," he said.

According to APHIS, while there are some reports of APP swine infection via contaminated clothing or airborne transmission, most cases of infection occur by nose-to-nose contact after the introduction of infected carrier pigs.

Clinical signs of the endemic strain of APP are difficulty breathing, fever, reduced appetite, and rapidly occurring death, APHIS reported. Cough and, in some cases, frothy and blood-stained nasal discharge can also be seen.

"Producers should be vigilant but not panic," cautioned Sam Hines, executive director of the Michigan Pork Producers Association.

The National Pork Board is urging producers to "go on a heightened state of alert" and do the following:

Review the farm's biosecurity and security plans. The Pork Checkoff-funded Biosecurity Guide and Security Guide are available online at www.porkboard.org or by calling (800) 456-PORK.

Report any suspicious activity or people around a farm to local law enforcement officials.

Alert a veterinarian to any unusual health situation on the farm. The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety is working with federal and state authorities in investigating the theft. In addition to the samples, research notebooks and computer disks were taken.

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