62—Uncaster Farming, Saturday. July 12, 1975 Using Sentinel Pigs To Check Swine Flu Periodic monitoring of a few in-herd "sentinel” pigs can alert the practicing veterinarian to influenza like illness beofre the oc currence of losses in young Piga- Supportive treatment that may prevent death losses in young pigs should be initiated as soon as symp toms such as coughing and labored breathing are noticed, microbiologist Eugene C. Pirtle of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service points out. Swine influenza is not always NORTHAMPTON FARM BUREAU CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION TATAMY, PA ★ FEED, SEED CHEMICALS ★ LIME AND FERTILIZER CUSTOM APPLICATION ★ TEXACO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS SIMPLICITY LAWN I GARDEN EQUIPMENT EASTON 215-258-2871 LANCASTER COUNTY FARM SUPPLY readily differentiated from other diseases by outward signs. But infected animals can be identified by laboratory testa. Swine Influenza, com monly known as hog "flu,” strikes suddenly, usually occurs in fall and winter, normally involves all of the susceptible animals within a herd, and subsides after a few days. The illness causes weight loss, reduced gains, and occasionally death. No effective preventive measures are available. Collecting blood samples IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SERVICED FILL OUT THE COUPON AND MAIL TO: 2061 EDGEMONT DR. EAST PETERSBURG, PA. 17520 OR PHONE 717-569-6830 for antibody teats and ob taining nasal swabs periodocally on all animals would be impractical in herds of several hundred to several thousand pigs. Since an entire herd is usually affected, Dr. Plrtle evaluated the use of representative, or “sen tinel” pigs in surveillance for influenza-llke Illness. Dr. Prltle, stationed at the National Animal Disease Center, Ames, lowa, con ducted the study in five lowa feeder herds with a total of about 7,000 pigs. Veterinarians in large animal practice assisted him in locating herds in which signs of swine influenza had not been reported in the fall months before the study. On the first visit to each farm, Dr. Pirtle obtained nasal swabs for isolation of swine influenza virus, as well as blood samples for use in hemmagglutination inhibition tests from each of 20 “sentinel” pigs. Dr. Pirtle took second blood samples from six of the “sentinel” pigs in each herd for hem magglutination-inhibition tests 3 weeks later if the virus was isolated, or 6 weeks later it if was not. The hemmagglutination- inhibition test detects specific antibodies to the virus within 2 to 3 weeks after initial infection. Dr. Pirtle chose “sentinel” pigs weighing 50 to 60 pounds, or 9 to 10 weeks old, because they should no longer be protected by an tibody passively acquired from the sows. These pigs should be susceptible to infection and are likely to remain in the herd until they reach market weight. Typical signs of swine influenza were seen in Herds SERVING THE LANCASTER FARMER ON THE FARM ANIMAL HEALTH WITH: HARDWARE AND GENERAL SUPPLIES "NOW SETTING UP ROUTES" 1 and 2 after these herds were selected for sur veillance, but approximately 48 hours before the first scheduled visit. Diagnosis was confirmed directly by virus isolation and indirectly by a rise in specific antibody between the first and second visits. Tests made after the first visit to Herd 3 indicated that it had previously been in fected, even though signs of illness were not reported. Antibody was detected although the virus was not isolated. Antibody was still Mt. Joy Cooking dub The Mt. Joy 4-H Cooking Club met recently at the St. Marks Church of God. Of ficers elected were: Jan Breneman, president; Robin Bricker, vice-president; Penny Sumpman, treasurer; Cindy Peifer, song leader and Loei Jo Grubb, game leader. Leaders of the club are Mary Sweigart and Nancy Helm. Beverly Kreider News Reporter LANCASTER COUNTY FARM SUPPLY j NAME j ADDRESS j PHONE i Please Check Box Pertaining to Livestock I Dairy I I Poultry ' iSwine l lOlher present in low levels in scrum samples collected 6 weeks later. Herds 4 and 5 showed no signs of illness during the 6- wcek surveillance, virus was not isolated, nor were measurable levels of an Tramisol ■nuwamun the most effective cattle wormer you can feed CONTROLS MORE WORMS Mora than any othar product. New TRAMISOL* lewemisole HCI controls all 9 major worms (namatodas) of tha lungs, stom ach, and intestlnas, that steal profitabla waifht (aids. NO GUESSWORK Oosa(a is basad on body weight alona. You don't guess which worms are present or how many. Ail the wormer you'll ever need AVAILABLE FROM YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIER dS> (An Independent Company Individually owned and operated) EW <yQst) tibody detected. Had either of theao herds become in* fected with the virus in the first 4 weeks of surveillance, Dr.Plrtle aays that specific antibody should have been detected In blood samples taken at the second visit. W&RBEX FAMPHUR MOMS MTTU MFCnOK IT REALLY WORKS Just use as directed. WAR BEX* famphur kills cattle grubs before they mature, before they damage meat and hides. WARBEX doesn't set cattle back. yaw. WARBEX is W easy to use. Just Pour It On mmtm
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