Veterinarian perceptions and practices in prevention and control of influenza virus in the midwest United States swine farms

Authors: MORAES, DANIEL - Iowa State University; Baker, Amy; WANG, XIN - Iowa State University; ZHU, ZHENGYUAN - Iowa State University; BERG, EMILY - Iowa State University; TREVISAN, G - Iowa State University; ZHANG, JIANQIANG - Iowa State University; JAYARAMAN, SWAMINATHAN - Iowa State University; LINHARES, DANIEL - Iowa State University; GAUGER, PHILLIP - Iowa State University; SILVA, GUSTAVO - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Veterinary Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2023
Publication Date: 2/3/2023
Citation: Moraes, D.C., Baker, A.L., Wang, X., Zhu, Z., Berg, E., Trevisan, G., Zhang, J., Jayaraman, S., Linhares, D., Gauger, P.C., Silva, G.S. 2023. Veterinarian perceptions and practices in prevention and control of influenza virus in the midwest United States swine farms. Frontiers in Veterinary Infectious Diseases. 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1089132.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1089132

Interpretive Summary: Influenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory pathogen affecting swine worldwide and is a public health concern since IAV can be shared between humans and pigs. Veterinarians respond to IAV infection in swine with varied approaches depending on their perception of its economic impact as well as human and animal health impact. This study considered three primary veterinary practice categories: swine exclusive veterinary practitioners, large animal practitioners that work predominantly with food animals in addition to swine, and mixed animal practitioners that work with companion and food animals. Surveys were provided to veterinarians from a database generated at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The results of this survey showed differences between U.S. veterinarian perceptions, biosecurity practices, and methods of control for IAV in swine. This information can be used to inform veterinarians of these differences and to better understand ways to improve practices in the future.

Technical Abstract: Influenza A virus (IAV) is an endemic respiratory pathogen affecting swine worldwide and is a public health concern as a zoonotic pathogen. Veterinarians may respond to IAV infection in swine with varied approaches depending on their perception of its economic impact, human, and animal health impact. This study considered three primary veterinary practice categories: swine exclusive veterinary practitioner, large animal practitioner, which corresponds to veterinarians that work predominantly with food animals including but not exclusively porcine, and mixed animal practitioner that corresponds to veterinarians working with companion and food animals. The objective of this survey was to assess U.S. veterinarian perceptions, biosecurity practices, and methods of control for IAV in swine. Surveys were provided to veterinarians from a database generated at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In this study, 54.5% (188/345) of the veterinarians targeted responded to all or portions of the survey. Results were evaluated based on responses from veterinarians identified in swine exclusive veterinary practices, predominantly large or mixed animal veterinary practices. The results demonstrated a difference in veterinarian's perceptions and practices reflected in questions such as whether the importance of IAV in swine is increasing (P = 0.02), whether IAV imparts a significant economic impact (P = 0.004), and whether the presence of IAV in swine is a concern to veterinarians (P = 0.04). Moreover, the use of autogenous IAV vaccines in the breeding herd differed among exclusive swine veterinarians and those in mixed animal practice (P = 0.03). Recommendation of IAV vaccines during gilt isolation (P = 0.0006) was more frequent among swine exclusive and general large animal veterinarians, and the recommendation of IAV vaccination during pre-farrowing (P = 0.01) was significantly different among veterinarians in large and mixed large and small animal practices. To our knowledge, no prior survey and synthesis of information has been reported from this unique source of professional demographic in the United States (U.S.). This study describes veterinarian perceptions to assess the mitigation of IAV in swine in the U.S., highlighting differences between swine exclusive, large animal, and mixed animal veterinarians.