SHIC Explores Expansion of Domestic Swine Disease Reporting System

The Swine Health Information Center's (SHIC's) domestic disease monitoring reporting system (SDRS) was developed as the result of a veterinary diagnostic lab (VDL) data standardization project utilizing HL7 messaging. SHIC's support of that work has resulted in a model capturing disease dynamics from daily VDL test results by pathogen over time, specimen, age group, and geographical space. SHIC is now exploring potential expansion of the diagnostic database to increase the breadth of producer disease diagnostic inputs and regional disease surveillance.

The SDRS delivering SHIC's monthly Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Reports is operated at Iowa State University. The goal is to aggregate swine diagnostic data from participating reporting VDLs and present it in an intuitive format via shared reports and web dashboards. SHIC is currently discussing participation by other state VDLs using USALIMS (animal laboratory information management system) to seamlessly integrate that information into the SDRS. This work could broaden the monitoring system to add value for SHIC stakeholders who use the data in their work to protect swine herd health.

USALIMS is an off-the-shelf laboratory information management system available for purchase by VDLs. It is fully integrated with its sibling state animal health official companion system, USAHERDS, providing automated interstate veterinary permit laboratory testing results such as horses negative for equine infectious anemia or streamlining issuance of animal movement permits. Seven states currently use both for that purpose. Right now, 18 states use USALIMS to record, report, and bill their veterinary diagnostic laboratory results/information, including animal necropsies submitted to them for diagnostic investigations. USALIMS also provides HL7 messaging for the USDA National Animal Health Network laboratories, providing the basic architecture needed to expand to include the messaging structure used by the SDRS.

Since its creation in 2018, data from four principal swine VDLs, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, South Dakota State, and Kansas State, have been compiled for analysis and reporting of swine pathogen surveillance as the SHIC monthly domestic disease monitoring report. The Ohio VDL has subsequently joined the SDRS. Currently monitored agents are porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine circovirus 2, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, swine influenza A virus, porcine deltacoronavirus, transmissible gastro enteritis virus, and M. hyopnuemoniae. Porcine test results from participating VDLs are organized at the case level by SDRS staff after retrieval. Statistical algorithms are then employed for overall and regional monitoring. An advisory group has been formed to help give context to the data collected and interpret it. Reports are then developed and published.