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Putting “Science into Practice”Using my PhD in practice
Matt Allerson, DVM, PhD
Holden Farms, Inc.
9/21/2015
Lifelong learning….
• B.S.: UW‐RF (2005)
• DVM & MPH: U of MN (2009)
• PhD: U of MN (2013)
• Current: • Holden Farms Inc. (Northfield, MN)
• Research coordinator and staff veterinarian
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Why PhD?
• U of MN VMED graduate program mission:
• Foster development of specific skills including:• Experimental and analytical methods
• Leadership
• Communication
• Independent and critical thinking
• Teaching
• Interdisciplinary research in collaborative environments
• Scientific and grant writing
Influenza A virus
• “Transmission and control of influenza virus in pig populations”• Weaning age pigs
• Importance for influenza transmission
• Subpopulation for IAV surveillance
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Influenza A virus research application
• Production system needs:• Multi‐source pig flows
• Clinical IAV presentation across flows• Secondary infections
• Difficulty starting pigs
• Weaning age pigs• Start to focus on this population to assess influenza virus prevalence across the system
• Swine Health Monitoring Project – Influenza• Currently a pilot initiative
Influenza A virus – System prevalence
U of MN Influenza SHMP, 2015
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Influenza A virus – Surveillance
U of MN Influenza SHMP, 2015
Influenza A virus ‐ Control
U of MN Influenza SHMP, 2015
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Influenza virus ‐ summary
• Using weaning age pigs as our surveillance population• Ability to institute control measures at the sow farm level
• Weaning age pigs a very important subpopulation at the system level• Multi‐source flows
• Movement of pigs across many geographic reasons
• Improve the first week on feed in the nursery stage
• Going forward• Utilizing vaccination approaches that are best matched to our sow farm findings
Vaccine trials
• Product A vs. Product B vs. Nothing?
• What are the options to answer these questions?1. Do nothing
2. Published literature, CE meetings, etc.
3. Use of closeout data
4. Small scale research facilities
5. Commercial research facilities
6. Large scale field trials
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Commitment to research
Vaccine comparisons for PCV2• Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCVAD)
• Ubiquitous• Difficult to assess impact on performance in the field directly across finishing groups
• Indirect assessment through vaccine trials
• Many cofactors known to have a significant role in PCVAD
• The clinical impact is generally quite evident, subclinical impact?
• Can we assess vaccines in one research site?
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PCV2 field vaccine trials
Sow farm
• Allotment to treatment within litter by gender
Nursery
• Treatments mixed within pen
Finisher
• Treatments mixed within pen
Trial 1: 5 cohortsTrial 2: 7 cohorts
PCV2 vaccine field trialsTrial 1
• 1,000 pigs on test per site• PCV2 vaccine (several combinations) or control• Weight
• Allotment (weaning)• Nursery exit• Prior to market
• Mortality
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PCV2 vaccine field trialsTrial 2
• 625 pigs on test per site• PCV2 vaccine (several combinations) or control• Weight
• Allotment (3 days of age)• Nursery exit• Prior to market
• Mortality
Data collection
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PCV2 example – Trial 1
PCV2 example – Trial 2
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PCV2 summary
• PCV2 vaccination• Improved growth performance and reduced mortality (2x)
• Subclinical impact on unvaccinated pigs housed with vaccinated pigs• Reduced performance without clinical expression of PCVAD
• Variability of disease/pathogen exposure• Should we expect this variability with other pathogens?
“Putting science into practice”
• New and emerging pathogens will continue to challenge us:• PRRSv
• PCV2
• 2009 Pandemic IAV
• PEDv
• SVV
• “Science based practice” will continue to lead our industry in the right direction
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Questions?
Thank you
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