Validating Pork MultiPathTM pathogen thresholds for herd health management

Validation of commercial threshold levels of pathogens detected by Pork MultiPathTM for improved herd health management

The use of surveillance systems in farming can significantly contribute to maintaining optimal animal health and welfare. Regular monitoring and testing can swiftly identify potential health issues and prevalent pathogens in pig herds, reducing the risk of disease outbreaks. However, conventional testing methods are often limited in scope and efficiency.

Among the 12 respiratory pathogens screened, SS generic, MHR, PM, and HP were frequently found across all populations, with the highest prevalence during the nursery stage. Co-infection patterns were common. Similarly, the PMP2 enteric panel detected co-infections of major enteric pathogens in nursery-age pigs, while some pathogens showed farm-specific prevalence.

The study's findings provided crucial insights into the prevalence profiles of respiratory and enteric pathogens, along with co-infection patterns in Australian production units. Additionally, established pathogen thresholds offered valuable information regarding the effectiveness of strategic antibiotic treatments and correlated trends corresponding to antibiotic usage. The study linked PMP results with metadata, establishing a correlation between certain pathogens and pig population sickness. Moreover, it identified threshold copy numbers for pathogens like MHR, HP, and BP, serving as alerts for veterinarians and farmers to initiate preventive measures.

Value for producers:

Producers can now evaluate the effectiveness of their strategic health programs against common pathogens, as well as identify previously unknown or low-prevalence pathogens.

Recommendations:
Together with their veterinarians, now they can:

• Identify pathogens that are prevalent within a specific geographic area or population.
• Utilize established thresholds to intervene before symptoms manifest.