Advances in the fight against the Seneca Valley virus, also known as Senecavirus A, have been made following an independent trial at Pipestone Applied Research Facility in the US. The trial found that pHorce from Anpario was an effective mitigant against the virus, and also against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea virus (PEDv) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv).
Seneca Valley virus has previously been most prevalent in the US, however more recently, cases have been reported in other countries, including in England last year. A disease related to the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease, it causes lesions around the coronary band and in or around the snout and nares. Lameness and crusting of the hoof is also common.
The impact of the disease can be significant as, although it is not notifiable in the UK, the symptoms do resemble notifiable diseases such as foot-and-mouth. This can lead to significant losses as temporary closures are likely to be required whilst notifiable diseases are ruled out and there are costs associated with diagnostic investigations. It is, therefore, vital to minimise the spread of the virus across the industry and across the world.
In the recent trial, triple action feed mitigant pHorce has been shown to be an effective viral mitigant. Pigs were challenged with Seneca Valley virus (SVA), PEDv and PRRSv via the feed using an “ice block model”. In pigs fed pHorce supplemented diets, there were no clinical signs associated with any of the viruses compared to the control pigs, where 100% presented clinical symptoms. In addition, there was no evidence of SVA in pigs fed pHorce and supplemented pigs had a lower mortality and an average daily gain which was double that of the control fed pigs.
Part of Anpario’s Acid Based Eubiotic (ABE) range, pHorce is a concentrated blend of formic and propionic acid on a micropearl carrier delivery system which was chosen to ensure maximum efficacy during feed manufacture and throughout the gastrointestinal tract of the animal.