Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Published Date: 2011-10-21 10:14:22
Subject: PRO/AH> Transmissible gastroenteritis, porcine - French Polynesia: (Tahiti) 1st
Archive Number: 20111021.3138 TRANSMISSIBLE GASTROENTERITIS, PORCINE - FRENCH POLYNESIA: (TAHITI),
FIRST REPORT
*********************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Thu 20 Oct 2011
Source: Les Nouvelles de Tahiti (LNT) [in French, machine trans.,
edited]
http://www.lesnouvelles.pf/article/ca-fait-la-une/une-epidemie-inedite-decime-547-porcs
An unprecedented epidemic decimates 547 pigs
--------------------------------------------
The 1st case of transmissible gastroenteritis [TGE] in pigs in Tahiti was recorded on 10 Aug 2011. Measures were immediately taken to protect the farms. Within 3 weeks, 547 pigs have died in 2 farms; 265 on one and 282 on another farm. The disease primarily affects piglets.
TGE is included in the diseases list of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). South Pacific has remained, until now, free of this disease; not any more. "This disease exists in America and other countries worldwide. We do not know exactly what is the cause. We know it's coming from the outside but how? We do not know," said Eric Coppenrath, president of the union of pig farmers.
Indeed, a veterinary report that LNT could see, says that the source of the outbreak(s) of infection is unknown or uncertain. No live pigs have been imported into French Polynesia during 2011, it said. Several theories circulate: "It may involve raw meat or frozen or chilled (the virus is resistant to cold) but apparently the affected farmers would not feed it to pigs. Contamination can also occur in animal feces (droppings), but it is not clear how the feces may have arrived in Tahiti, a veterinary analysis of UNCDF [United Nations Capital Development Fund] said. In the report on the infection it is noted that "the contamination could come from an itinerant butcher feeding restaurant waste to pigs before their illegal slaughter."
Today, Polynesia has been added to the list of regions where the disease is present, which may restrict trade and pose medical problems at the borders. "Fortunately" pork was not really part of Tahitian exports so it does not have impact on farmers in this respect. But the problem is economic: the herds were decimated. According to estimates from a breeder, 2 months' revenue were lost by each of the affected farmers, CFP 1.3 million (about USD 15 000) for one farm and CFP 1.4 million (about USD 16 200) for the other.
The risk of spread from animal to animal is also strong. Contamination can be spread on foot or by vehicles. Various measures have been undertaken [see in commentary].
The disease does not affect humans. Dr Valerie Roy, head of Food Quality and Veterinary Action of the Rural Development Department, said "2 inspectors are present every day to control animals slaughtered and their carcasses" and "it is forbidden to kill a sick animal."
-- communicated by: Ronan Kelly for FluTrackers.com <RONANKELLY@COMCAST.NET>
[Transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs (TGE, transmissible gastro enteritis) is caused by a coronavirus, affecting all ages but significant deaths are seen particularly in suckling pigs. Almost all susceptible piglets under 10 days of age die within 7 days of exposure to the virus, and about half of pigs 10-21 days of age die. TGE is included in OIE's list of Suidae diseases. Additional information is available at http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/2.08.11_TRANSMISSIBLE_GASTRO.pdf and http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/123/transmissible-gastro-enteritis-tge.
The outbreak was officially reported to the OIE by French Polynesia on 4 Oct 2011; the report, including an interactive map, is available at http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=11107. It includes the following epidemiological comments: "The source of infection is uncertain. No live pigs have been imported in French Polynesia in 2011. Nevertheless, contamination could come from an itinerant butcher who fed pigs with waste from restaurants before illegal slaughter. A positive serology was obtained on 3 Oct 2011 by differential ELISA TGE/PRCV (transmissible gastroenteritis/porcine respiratory coronavirus). Routine biosecurity measures have been reinforced in all pig farms in Tahiti. Vaccination has never been applied (subject to the import of vaccines), but is not prohibited."
Since vaccination was not prohibited previous to the outbreak, it would be interesting to note if (non-certified, illegally imported) vaccines might have been used and if they were modified live or inactivated vaccines. - Mod.AS
Maps of French Polynesia are available at http://www.spc.int/aquaculture/images/countries/large/french_polynesia_b1.gif and http://healthmap.org/r/1m8a. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
See Also
2006
---
Undiagnosed disease, porcine - Philippines: RFI 20060420.1158
2004
---
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Israel(02): OIE, conf.
20040907.2496
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Israel: susp. 20040711.1858
2003
---
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Cuba: OIE 20030510.1161]
.................................................arn/mj/sh
http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20111021.3138
Subject: PRO/AH> Transmissible gastroenteritis, porcine - French Polynesia: (Tahiti) 1st
Archive Number: 20111021.3138 TRANSMISSIBLE GASTROENTERITIS, PORCINE - FRENCH POLYNESIA: (TAHITI),
FIRST REPORT
*********************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Thu 20 Oct 2011
Source: Les Nouvelles de Tahiti (LNT) [in French, machine trans.,
edited]
http://www.lesnouvelles.pf/article/ca-fait-la-une/une-epidemie-inedite-decime-547-porcs
An unprecedented epidemic decimates 547 pigs
--------------------------------------------
The 1st case of transmissible gastroenteritis [TGE] in pigs in Tahiti was recorded on 10 Aug 2011. Measures were immediately taken to protect the farms. Within 3 weeks, 547 pigs have died in 2 farms; 265 on one and 282 on another farm. The disease primarily affects piglets.
TGE is included in the diseases list of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). South Pacific has remained, until now, free of this disease; not any more. "This disease exists in America and other countries worldwide. We do not know exactly what is the cause. We know it's coming from the outside but how? We do not know," said Eric Coppenrath, president of the union of pig farmers.
Indeed, a veterinary report that LNT could see, says that the source of the outbreak(s) of infection is unknown or uncertain. No live pigs have been imported into French Polynesia during 2011, it said. Several theories circulate: "It may involve raw meat or frozen or chilled (the virus is resistant to cold) but apparently the affected farmers would not feed it to pigs. Contamination can also occur in animal feces (droppings), but it is not clear how the feces may have arrived in Tahiti, a veterinary analysis of UNCDF [United Nations Capital Development Fund] said. In the report on the infection it is noted that "the contamination could come from an itinerant butcher feeding restaurant waste to pigs before their illegal slaughter."
Today, Polynesia has been added to the list of regions where the disease is present, which may restrict trade and pose medical problems at the borders. "Fortunately" pork was not really part of Tahitian exports so it does not have impact on farmers in this respect. But the problem is economic: the herds were decimated. According to estimates from a breeder, 2 months' revenue were lost by each of the affected farmers, CFP 1.3 million (about USD 15 000) for one farm and CFP 1.4 million (about USD 16 200) for the other.
The risk of spread from animal to animal is also strong. Contamination can be spread on foot or by vehicles. Various measures have been undertaken [see in commentary].
The disease does not affect humans. Dr Valerie Roy, head of Food Quality and Veterinary Action of the Rural Development Department, said "2 inspectors are present every day to control animals slaughtered and their carcasses" and "it is forbidden to kill a sick animal."
-- communicated by: Ronan Kelly for FluTrackers.com <RONANKELLY@COMCAST.NET>
[Transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs (TGE, transmissible gastro enteritis) is caused by a coronavirus, affecting all ages but significant deaths are seen particularly in suckling pigs. Almost all susceptible piglets under 10 days of age die within 7 days of exposure to the virus, and about half of pigs 10-21 days of age die. TGE is included in OIE's list of Suidae diseases. Additional information is available at http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/2.08.11_TRANSMISSIBLE_GASTRO.pdf and http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/123/transmissible-gastro-enteritis-tge.
The outbreak was officially reported to the OIE by French Polynesia on 4 Oct 2011; the report, including an interactive map, is available at http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=event_summary&reportid=11107. It includes the following epidemiological comments: "The source of infection is uncertain. No live pigs have been imported in French Polynesia in 2011. Nevertheless, contamination could come from an itinerant butcher who fed pigs with waste from restaurants before illegal slaughter. A positive serology was obtained on 3 Oct 2011 by differential ELISA TGE/PRCV (transmissible gastroenteritis/porcine respiratory coronavirus). Routine biosecurity measures have been reinforced in all pig farms in Tahiti. Vaccination has never been applied (subject to the import of vaccines), but is not prohibited."
Since vaccination was not prohibited previous to the outbreak, it would be interesting to note if (non-certified, illegally imported) vaccines might have been used and if they were modified live or inactivated vaccines. - Mod.AS
Maps of French Polynesia are available at http://www.spc.int/aquaculture/images/countries/large/french_polynesia_b1.gif and http://healthmap.org/r/1m8a. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
See Also
2006
---
Undiagnosed disease, porcine - Philippines: RFI 20060420.1158
2004
---
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Israel(02): OIE, conf.
20040907.2496
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Israel: susp. 20040711.1858
2003
---
Transmissible gastroenteritis, swine - Cuba: OIE 20030510.1161]
.................................................arn/mj/sh
http://www.promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20111021.3138