Abstract:

Estimated prevalence and impact of periweaning failure to thrive syndrome in Canada and the United States

Terri L. O’Sullivan, DVM, PhD; John C. S. Harding, DVM, MSc, Diplomate ABVP; Robert Friendship, DVM, MSc, Diplomate ABVP; Steve Henry, DVM, Diplomate ABVP; Darin Madson, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP; Kent Schwartz, DVM, MSc

Complete article is available online.

PDF version is available online.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of periweaning failure to thrive syndrome (PFTS) in Canadian and American nursery-pig flows, to estimate the percentage of PFTS-affected pigs within an affected nursery flow, and to rank the common clinical signs observed by practitioners associated with PFTS on commercial farms.

Materials and methods: A questionnaire was designed, beta tested, and then made available through the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) and University of Guelph Web sites. Swine practitioners in major swine-producing regions of Canada and the United States completed the questionnaire to estimate the prevalence and impact of PFTS in nursery flows. To raise awareness and to aid in consistent recognition and reporting of the syndrome, a video was produced and accompanied the questionnaire. Oral, scientific-poster, and video presentations were also made at major swine-practitioner meetings across Canada and the United States to promote awareness of the syndrome and questionnaire.

Results: Fifty-five questionnaires were completed, with respondents servicing 1974 nursery flows. The reported mean flow prevalence of PFTS was 4.3% (95% CI, 0.9%-8.0%). The within-flow prevalence was reported to be variable (1% to 20%), with cases reported in five provinces and 11 states.

Implications: This report provides the first estimate of the mean flow prevalence and impact of PFTS in Canada and the United States. It is reasonable to expect this estimated prevalence to change as we continue to understand the syndrome. Video documentation, including demonstration of the clinical signs associated with PFTS, was an effective method to raise awareness of the syndrome.

Keywords: periweaning failure to thrive syndrome, prevalence, survey, mortality, PFTS


RIS citationCite as: O’Sullivan TL, Harding JCS, Friendship R, et al. Estimated prevalence and impact of periweaning failure to thrive syndrome in Canada and the United States. J Swine Health Prod 2014;22(1):24-28.

Search the AASV web site for pages with similar keywords.