CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

[sharon sanders]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Thank you Sharpe. I want to remind everyone that ProMed is a volunteer reporting service with no independent verification.

 

[HenryN]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Promed is posting more on this. Really fascinating but sad stuff, that's for sure.

It is being called the "Pig High Fever Unknown Illness". They additionally mention other provinces affected, say that it has a mortality rate of >40%, has the highest lethality rates among younger pigs, and has been going on for several years (!!!!!!!!!!!!), and they still don't know what it is! They additionally mention another symptom--blue ears. ??? I take the following quote directly out of one of Theresa's recent posts from Indonesia:
Sheesh. What are we dealing with here? A mortality rate of 40% sweeping through millions of pigs in China? Yikes. Promed happily discusses flu as a possibility, but they don't even consider H5N1, merely hinting at it--I have absolutely NO idea why, making some amazingly random comments about harmless diseases that occasionally have the ... "blue ear"... Ha ha ha! Ironically, the reports are that in those areas hit the hardest, the epidemic situation is improving.... Well, why shouldn't they be? Everything's already dead!


UNDIAGNOSED DISEASE, PORCINE - CHINA (02): REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ****************************************************************** A ProMED-mail post <http: www.promedmail.org="">ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http: www.isid.org="">[1] Date: 4 Sep 2006 From: Dan Silver <dgsilver@yahoo.com>Source: ChinaNews.com [translated by sender, edited] <http: 2006="" 784512.shtml="" 09-04="" news="" ylws="" kj="" www.chinanews.com.cn="">

A pig disease has occurred in some mid-sized and small farms and farming households in some parts of China's South this summer. A spokesperson from the News Office of China's Ministry of Agriculture said today that the number of cases has already been substantially reduced and the disease situation is easing. This kind of pig disease is mainly characterized by high fever and is called "Pig High Fever Disease." In recent years during the hot and humid season, it has appeared numerous times in regions of the South. After the disease outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture sent expert teams and work teams to disease-affected regions to diagnose the disease and guide local prevention and control work. Laboratory tests have ruled out zoonotic disease. At the same time, using OIE-recommended detection methods, African Swine Fever has been ruled out. The Ministry of Agriculture requests that all locales organize veterinary personnel to go deep into local areas to guide farming households in disinfection, isolation, and other comprehensive prevention and control measures, and undertake immunization against identified pathogens. [Byline: Dong Jung]

***** [2] Date: 5 Sep 2006 From: Dan Silver<dgsilver@yahoo.com> Source: Suizhou Daily News [translated by sender, edited] <http: 2006="" news="" 200609035.htm="" 61.184.255.22="">Yesterday, the provincial government held an urgent, province-wide videoteleconference [the province in question is Hubei; see URL for map below] on prevention and control of serious animal diseases, demanding fast action from all parts of the province, paying special attention to prevention and control work against the unknown pig high fever illness, to ensure increased agricultural efficacy and increased farmer receipts. Since the middle of July 2006, an unknown pig disease has occurred in the neighboring provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan and Henan, and other areas. Already 40 percent of pigs have died from infection. As of mid-August this disease had already spread to parts of Hubei. Conditions are relatively serious. According to reports, the pig disease is characterized by high fever, sudden onset, rapid transmission, and high mortality rate. Municipal Government Secretary Yan Xinguo participated in the conference. He requested all districts of the city to heighten awareness, formulate vigorous measures, organize with utmost care, strengthen monitoring, and pay attention to disease trends at all times. Relevant departments must carry out legal inspections of pig transports and conscientiously strengthen the intensity of inspections at border inspection spots. Animal husbandry and other relevant departments must strengthen market supervision, firmly deal with disease, and strengthen oversight against disease during production, slaughter and sale. Once high fever pig illness of unknown origin is discovered, immediately file reports, quickly undertake safe disposal, strictly disinfect, work hard against the sale of dead diseased pigs and pigs that have died of unknown causes, and ensure the safety of meat on the market. Relevant departments must suspend purchase of pigs from disease-affected areas to prevent the spread of pig disease. While prevention and control of unknown high fever pig disease is being accomplished, strictly watch for other animal diseases and thoroughly plan prevention and control work for other serious animal diseases. Organize specialized teams to supervise disease inspection to ensure substantial progress on disease prevention in the fall. ****** [3]

Date: 4 Sep 2006 From: Dan Silver<dgsilver@yahoo.com> Source: Jiangshan Television [translated by sender, edited] <http: shownews.asp?newsid="14230" news="" program="" www.21js.com="">Recently, the circumstances of pig "high fever illness" have been relatively severe. In response, Jiangshan is adopting measures to actively implement prevention and treatment. [Jiangshan -- a common city name, occurring in several Chinese provinces -- is in this case a municipality within the larger Quzhou City, situated in the western part of Zhejiang Province. - CopyEd.PG] Pig "high fever illness" is appearing in all areas in our province [Zhejiang] other than Zhoushan City. There are more than 66 000 ill pigs and already more than 11 000 have died. Since July, pig "high fever illness" has appeared in one village after the other in Jiangshan. Symptoms are elevated body temperature, redness on the body surface, and cough. Ears turn light blue in a minority of pigs. The mortality rate among sucklings and weaned pigs is especially high. To effectively carry out prevention of pig "high fever illness", the municipal agriculture department strengthens disease inspection and safe disposal of deceased ill pigs, and guides pig-raising households to lower temperatures in pigsties, reducing the occurrence of disease. On the morning of 4 Sep 2006, Jiangshan held a pig "high fever illness" prevention meeting. Vice mayor Xu Daqing demanded heightened attention to pig "high fever illness" and thorough implementation of all prevention and control measures, including sealing off and isolating disease sites, strengthening hygiene and disinfection, and reducing movement of pigs. At this time, traders are prohibited from importing breeding pigs from other provinces and cities to strictly prevent disease from entering Jiangshan and to ensure the efficacy of disease prevention work. [Byline: Yu Chunzhou] --


ProMED-mail
[Our first posting referred to Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, and other provinces. Today's reports additionally mention Jiangshan City in Zheijiang province and Henan province (see <http: china_administrative.png="" c9="" c="" en="" wikipedia="" upload.wikimedia.org="">). Given the reports of over a million dead pigs, many of which appear to be in village settings, the disease is clearly widespread. Secondly, death is reported to occur in over 40 percent of pigs, definitely making this a high-mortality event. The big question is what disease is causing such widespread mortality in swine? Clearly, "high fever" or "blue ear" disease is not a diagnosis, rather they are signs of an undiagnosed and seemingly systemic disease. "Blue ear" was used by Europeans as a slang name early on for the recently emerged Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Disease, but this does not generally cause such widespread mortality among all age groups. Discoloration of the skin can be seen in several swine diseases including erysipelas and salmonellosis. Such high mortality and the widespread nature of this outbreak -- as well as the control measures instituted -- prompts one to think of epidemic swine diseases such as Hog Cholera (as known as Classical Swine Fever) or African Swine Fever. However, I hope that the Chinese authorities are carefully considering the possibility of Swine Influenza usually caused by H1N1, H1N2, or H3N2 in Asia. Although Swine Influenza does not normally cause very high mortality (i.e. only 2-3 percent die when the disease is endemic), a new influenza strain could cause high mortality in swine[DUH!], just as it would in humans. Therefore, it is important we find out exactly what is causing this undefined, undiagnosed disease over large areas of China. - Mod.PC]

H5N1 is clearly the elephant in the living room. It is most remarkable that ProMed feels it is necessary to talk in code with regard to widespread H5N1 in swine in association with a high mortality rate.

The 1918 pandmeic was a recombinant between human H1N1 and swine H1N1 (no birds required) in all ALL 8 gene segments (another elephant that no one wants to talk about).

Unfortunately, H5N1 doesn't read press releases or ProMed commentaries.</http:></http:></dgsilver@yahoo.com></http:></dgsilver@yahoo.com></http:></dgsilver@yahoo.com></http:></http:>

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Here is the last report China filled at the OIE

[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]IGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP. OF ~): FOLLOW-UP REPORT NO. 19[/FONT] [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]See also: 27 July 2006, 6 July 2006, 22 June 2006, 8 June 2006, 9 February 2006, 12 January 2006, 5 January 2006, 16 December 2005, 2 December 2005, 25 November 2005, 18 November 2005, 11 November 2005, 11 November 2005, 4 November 2005, 28 October 2005, 21 October 2005, 12 August 2005, 24 June 2005, 10 June 2005, 27 May 2005[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Information received on 15 August 2006 from Mr Jia Youling, Director General, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]End of previous report period: 20 July 2006 (see Disease Information, 19 [30], 550, dated 27 July 2006).[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]End of this report period: 15 August 2006.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Date of first confirmation of the event: 7 June 2005.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Clinical disease: yes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Nature of diagnosis: clinical, post-mortem and laboratory.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]New outbreak:[/FONT]
<center><table border="2" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="10%">First administrative division (province)</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="9%">Lower administrative division</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="6%">Type of epide-miolo-gical unit</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="10%">Name of the location</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="10%">Date of start of the outbreak</td><td rowspan="2" align="center" width="3%">Spe-cies</td><td colspan="5" align="center" valign="top">Number of animals in the outbreak</td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="8%">susceptible</td><td align="center" width="6%">cases</td><td align="center" width="6%">deaths</td><td align="center" width="7%">destroyed</td><td align="center">slaugh-tered</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="10%">Hunan</td><td width="9%">Changsha</td><td align="center" width="6%">village</td><td align="center" width="10%">Hanhui</td><td align="center" width="10%">4 August 2006</td><td align="center" width="3%">avi</td><td align="center" width="8%">?</td><td align="center" width="6%">1,805</td><td align="center" width="6%">1,805</td><td align="center" width="7%">217,000</td><td align="center">0</td></tr></tbody></table> </center> [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Description of affected population: poultry.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Diagnosis:[/FONT]
<center><table border="2" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr><td align="center" width="44%">Laboratory where diagnostic tests were performed</td><td align="center" width="32%">Diagnostic tests used</td><td align="center" width="14%">Date</td><td align="center">Results</td></tr><tr valign="top"><td width="44%">Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin (national reference laboratory for avian influenza)</td><td width="32%">- haemagglutination inhibition test
- RT-PCR⁽¹⁾
- intravenous pathogenicity index test
</td><td align="center" width="14%">14 August 2006</td><td align="center">positive</td></tr></tbody></table> </center> [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Control measures undertaken:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- stamping out;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- quarantine;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- movement control inside the country;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- screening;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- zoning;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- vaccination;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s);[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- dipping/spraying.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Treatment of affected animals: no.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Vaccination prohibited: no.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Final report: no.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif](1) RT-PCR: reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction[/FONT]


[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_05.HTM#Sec8
[/FONT]

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

From OIE

[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]STREPTOCOCCUS SUIS IN CHINA (PEOPLE'S REP. OF ~)
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Follow-up report No. 1[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]See also: 5 August 2005[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Information received on 5 September 2005 from Mr Jia Youling, Director General, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]End of previous report period: 5 August 2005 (see Disease Information, 18 [31], 245, dated 5 August 2005).[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]End of this report period: 30 August 2005.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]1. General situation[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]A total of 647 pigs have died as a result of Streptococcus suis infection in Sichuan province.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The deaths occurred in 149 villages of 88 municipalities in 21 counties of the following 8 regions:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Chengdu,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Deyang,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Luzhou,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Mianyang,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Nanchong,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Neijiang,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Zigong,[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- Ziyang.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The epizootic began in late June 2005, reached a peak around 20 July, and then declined sharply.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]No new cases have occurred since 6 August 2005.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]This epizootic was caused by Streptococcus suis type 2. The LD₅₀(dose lethal to 50% of the animals) of the bacterial strain isolated in Sichuan was determined using the new laboratory animal model, zebra fish (pure breeding line), and the virulence genes of the bacterium were also tested.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The results of the tests showed that the virulence of the isolate is not significantly different from that of isolates obtained from other places in the past, and no evidence of genetic variation has been found.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The main characteristics of the epizootic were as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]1.1. Spatial distribution[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The outbreak areas were mainly centralised in the historical endemic areas of S. suis infection in Ziyang, Neijiang and other places. The outbreaks occurred sporadically, and did not occur densely over a large region. Infected points were far apart and had no direct epidemiological relationship. There is therefore little likelihood of transmission having occurred between them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]1.2. Temporal distribution[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The disease was first recognised on 24 June 2005, and mainly occurred in July. During this period the weather was hot, humid and rainy. The season when the epizootic occurred was the same as in the past. This shows that the occurrence of S. suis infection in pigs is specific to a particular season.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]1.3. Herd distribution[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]All outbreaks occurred in remote rural areas with poor economic conditions, and only in small backyard farms, where animal health conditions are poor, and pigpens are dimly lit, damp and inadequately ventilated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]No outbreaks were reported in intensive farms and large-scale premises with better sanitary conditions.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The morbidity observed in pigs within each affected group was low.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]2. Control measures[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The recent S. suis epizootic was effectively controlled by applying all of the following measures:[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- preventive treatment of pigs in the same herd as infected and dead animals using highly sensitive antimicrobials, and improvement of resistance to the disease by adding preventive medicine to animal feed;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- regular disinfection of swine holdings in infected places and zones, livestock markets and designated slaughterhouses, aimed at improving sanitary conditions;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- destruction of cadavers of dead pigs by deep burial;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- stepping up of inspection and quarantine, and movement control of animals and animal products;[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]- development and production of vaccine, and emergency vaccination of pigs in high-risk areas aimed at improving their level of immunity.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]3. Vaccination[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Pigs have been vaccinated with Streptococcus suis type 2 vaccine.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]In the regions of Ziyang, Neijiang and Zigong, where highest morbidity was found, vaccination was performed in all counties; in the other five regions, vaccination was performed only in the infected counties and in the zones at risk adjacent to infected zones.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]No vaccination was performed in pigs for slaughter within twenty days, one-month-old piglets, pregnant sows or weak pigs.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]To date, about 14 million pigs have been vaccinated, and the vaccination cover is up to 90%.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]Testing of vaccinated pigs with indirect ELISA showed that 70% of pigs had a significant serum antibody titre 14 days after vaccination.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]The application of vaccine in the field has demonstrated that Streptococcus suis type 2 inactivated vaccine is effective, safe and has few side-effects.[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif][/FONT]
http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_54.HTM#Sec3

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

On Swine Fever

Swine Fevers; African, Classical, Hog Cholera

Swine fever is one of the most important virus diseases of pigs. It is notifiable in most countries of the world. . The pig is the only natural host. The virus is spread from infected or carrier pigs via discharges from the nose, mouth, urine and faeces or infected semen and it is highly contagious. The virus survives in frozen carcasses for long periods of time
Control is by slaughter or as a last resort by vaccination. African swine fever (ASF) and Classical Swine fever are caused by very similar viruses which are only distinguishable by laboratory testing.
Symptoms

Piglets

• Huddled.
• Chilled.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• Incoordination.
• Conjunctivitis.
• High fever.
• Death sudden.
• Piglet malformations.
• Very weak piglets at birth showing trembling (congenital tremor).

Sows

• When first introduced into the breeding herd it causes inappetence and high fevers.
• The virus can cross the placenta to invade the foetuses.
• Returns 18 23 days.
• Foetal death with mummification.
• Embryo death.
• Dog sitting position.
• Nervous signs
• Abortions.
• Increases in stillbirths.
• Convulsions may occur with death within a few hours.
• Sows may lose the use of their legs.
• The disease in the acute form will have dramatic effects on reproduction through abortions and embryo and foetal deaths.

Weaners & Growers

• Pigs dejected - hang their heads.
• Not eating.
• Pigs chilled - huddled together.
• Diarrhoea.
• Eye discharge - heavy.
• High persistent fever.
• Nervous signs - Incoordination, swaying on the legs.
• Blue discoloration of the skin.
• High mortality.

Call your veterinarian immediately if you have the above symptoms.
Diagnosis

CSF is a rapid spreading disease with high mortality. There are characteristic post-mortem changes with haemorrhagic lymph nodes, dead patches in the spleen, multiple small haemorrhages in the kidneys and so-called "button ulcers" in the gut.
Laboratory tests include the identification of viral antigen, isolation of the virus and the presence of antibodies in serum. In most countries CSF is notifiable.

http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/117/swine-fevers-african-classical-hog-cholera

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Classical Swine Fever (CSF) - Hog Cholera (HC)


Clinical signs

If you are involved in pig farming in one of the fringe regions identified above you should be able to recognise the early clinical signs so that you can alert you veterinarian. If the disease is suspected he/she will report it to the authorities. They will carry out laboratory tests and depending on your country's policy, will probably slaughter your herd, a very distressing experience even if you are paid compensation.


The virus that causes CSF varies in virulence. Some strains are highly virulent and cause acute (i.e. rapid) serious disease. Some strains are of low virulence and cause chronic (i.e. long-lasting) disease, others are intermediate causing sub-acute disease.


Acute disease
Clinical signs usually appear first in a small number of growing pigs which show non-specific signs of depression, sleepiness, and reluctance to get up or to eat. If you get them up they may wander to the feeder but eat very little or nothing and wander away again to lie down. They walk and stand with their heads down and tails limp. Over the following few days these signs get worse and more pigs become affected.
Younger piglets may appear chilled, shiver and huddle together.


Initially affected pigs may appear to be constipated but this generally changes to a yellow-grey diarrhoea as the disease progresses. Early on some of the pigs may develop conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye surface) with thin discharges. This gets worse, the discharge getting thicker with time until some of the eyelids are completely closed and adhered.


A constant early sign, which persists throughout the disease until just before death, is a high fever, over 42?C (107?F). Check the sick pigs' rectal temperatures. If they are all high suspect CSF.


As the disease progresses the affected pigs become very thin and weak and develop a staggering walk. Initially this is probably through weakness but later it is due to infection of and damage to the spinal nerves. Partial paralysis of the hind end results in a drunken walk and a tendency to fall to a sitting or lying position. Diarrhoea worsens and some pigs vomit a yellowish bile. The pigs' skins go purple, first over the ears and tail, followed by the snout, lower legs, belly and back. Affected pigs die in 10-20 days. Some pigs go into convulsions before death.


Sub-acute disease
The early signs in growing pigs are similar but they progress more slowly and are less severe. Affected pigs may be ill for up to 30 days before they die.


Chronic and aberrant disease and persistent infection
The virus can cross the placenta and infect the piglets in the sow's uterus. Sows that have been inadequately vaccinated that become infected, or sows which become infected with a virus of low virulence, may appear normal but give birth to shaking piglets many of which die. (Note: there are also other causes of shaking or trembling piglets).


If the virus crosses the placenta before the piglets' immune systems have developed they may be born apparently healthy although possibly weak and may grow on to be persistent carriers without at first showing clinical signs. They shed virus so they are a menace to other pigs. At several weeks or months of age they may develop typical clinical signs but these are likely to be milder, last longer and without the high temperatures.


Virus that infects the piglets in the uterus may cause other effects, namely, death, mummification, abortion or the birth of weak piglets some of which may be deformed. Vaccination of sows during pregnancy with some of the original attenuated virus vaccines resulted in trans-placental infection of unborn piglets with similar adverse results. The newer attenuated vaccines are claimed to be safer.


Low virulence strains of the virus may also multiply in the reproductive tracts of unvaccinated boars or boars which have been inadequately vaccinated. The vaccine virus itself in some of the older attenuated vaccines was thought to do this, resulting in returns to service and abortions.

http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/447/classical-swine-fever-csf-hog-cholera-hc

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Therefore, symptoms, blue ears too, appears to be consistent with hog cholera.

Unless I am missing something here.

Comments anyone ??

 

[kent nickell]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Nicely done Snowy, and certainly seems like a very possible explanation.

I think it would make sense in such a sensitive and serious situation for China to allow other researchers such as WHO, CDC, Institute Pasteur, or Medicine Sans Frontiers to come in and collect samples for independent verification.

Make a committment to world health by committing to transparency for the best welfare of China as well as us all. Realize that disease has no borders and the truth will eventually come out.

 

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

I totally agree KN,

On top of this China strongly wants Dr Chan to be the next Leader of the WHO, they should be consequent and open to tranparancy prior to the election. In fact they have an opportunity to change outside perceptions on there datas and status. They consider the 2008 Olympic as an Honorable event, with all this 'Honorable includes in their culture, they must change their attitude and consider themselves as part of the rest of the world in Health matters.

I really hope they get out of their traditional behavior and reach out to the rest of humanity with respect and diligence.

We would all benifit from this.

 

[LMonty]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

dehydration, fever, and blood problems can cause peripheral discoloration which in animals often shows in the thinner skin of the ears. So I think its entirely possbile that it can be a sign assosicated with several serious diseases.

labored breathing means youre working hard- its difficult breathing often assosciated with upper respiratopry infection or more serious pneumonias, and some biochemical abnormalities.

speaking of pneumonia there doesnt seem to be any mention of it in the reports. I would anticipate the possiblity of pneumonias if it was flu (unless its killing so quick there isnt time for it to be noticed) speculative thought on my part-thoughts?

I would also anticipate that if this was a well known classical swine disease- the chinese would have known that and tested for it and found it quickly. it does make me wonder that it may well be a flu or perhaps even strep suis- though they certainly have had their share of that lately and should be able to ID it quickly.

way too many new diseases these days, arent there?

 

[gsgs]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

is hog-cholera hard to diagnose ?
Aren't there some tests to find the virus/bakterium ?
This is lasting since months and very severe and they have no diagnosis !!!
Do we believe this or isn't it more likely that they are hiding something ?

 

[Niko]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

I can't decide which is preferable:
1) the Chinese have a yet to be diagnosed, vicious disease killing 40+% of pigs over a vast geographical area; or
2) the Chinese have a yet to be disclosed, vicious disease killing 40+% of pigs over a vast geographical area.

 

[HenryN]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

I have started a thread on travel logs of H5N1 from swine in China on the withdrawn sequences. Here is an example of one polymorphism from one of the Gunagdong isolates. This polymorphism has been acquired by Qinghai isolates

<TABLE class=resultstable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=185851 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ673901 </TD><TD>A/chicken/Ivory Coast/1787/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1690 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=185326 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ650659 </TD><TD>A/chicken/Crimea/04/2005 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1754 </TD><TD>2005 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=133428 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ104701 </TD><TD>A/duck broiler/Malaysia/F118/08/04 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1733 </TD><TD>2004 </TD><TD>H5N2 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=64963 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>AY651354 </TD><TD>A/Ck/Hong Kong/NT93/2003 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1613 </TD><TD>2003 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=80709 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>AY747609 </TD><TD>A/swine/Fujian/1/2003 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1766 </TD><TD>2003 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=138712 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>AJ632268 </TD><TD>A/duck/France/02166/2002 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1696 </TD><TD>2002 </TD><TD>H5N3 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=129007 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>AY747617 </TD><TD>A/swine/Fujian/F1/2001 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1779 </TD><TD>2001 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[HenryN]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Thread on H5N1 Chinese swine travel-logs

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=29637#post29637

 

[HenryN]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09090601/High_Fever_Swine_China_CFR.html

 

[fanofjustice]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

From The China Post
5 face jail for slaughtering sick swine

2006/9/9
The China Post staff

The Tainan District Prosecutor's Office yesterday indicted five private pig slaughters and dealers on charges of their alleged illegal sales of finished and semi-finished pork products processed with sick and dead pigs.
Prosecutors made the indictment following a year of investigations into a scam in which Wang Chia-yu, Lin Shih-ping and Chen Hua allegedly purchased sick pigs or dead pigs with diseases from pig farmers in southern Taiwan, illegally slaughtered the pigs and then sold the porks to two downstream processors Tang Fen-nan and Cheng Chin-long.

Tang and Cheng processed the pork products into sausages for sales to consumers, with a monthly sales volume of 1,000 kilograms.

Prosecutors recommended a jail term of seven years against both Lin Shih-ping and Tang Fen-nan, plus a fine of NT%8 million each; a jail term of six years against Wang Chia-yu, plus a fine of NT$5 million; five years in prison and a fine of NT$7 million for Cheng Chin-long and three years in ail for Chen Hua, wife of Lin Shih-ping.

Prosecutors said in the indictment that the five were typical "black-hearted" businessmen, trying hard to make money regardless of other people's "life or death."

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Thanks and Welcome Fanofjustice.

 

[Sharpe]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

Prosecutors said in the indictment that the five were typical "black-hearted" businessmen, trying hard to make money regardless of other people's "life or death."

I wonder what people's "death"s are being caused by.

 

[gsgs]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

they didn't exactly say people were dying. Just an attribute to describe the characters of these "typical black-hearted businessmen".

Although, with 7 years of prison you might assume that there
was quite some damage. But then I don't know much
about Chinese justice.

 

[Sharpe]

Re: CHINA - Unknown disease kills >1,000,000 pigs in 1 district alone

they didn't exactly say people were dying.

True, gs, but "didn't say" doesn't mean "didn't happen", either. 7 years is an awfully long time to send someone to jail in any country for a disease that people can't catch.