Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Animal Health

Possible import route identified for Northern Ireland’s LA-MRSA case

PW ReportersBy PW ReportersJuly 31, 20143 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The recent case of the weaner in Northern Ireland that tested positive for livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) could be linked to imported stock after all, writes Graeme Kirk.

Late last week Nothern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) told Pig World that there had been no imports of stock onto the unit, but it updated its statement today (August 4) to say there had been no imports in the past two years.

Pig World was also contacted independently by someone close to the case who confirmed that a small number of gilts had been imported into the herd two years ago. They were of the opinion that it was highly likely that these were the source of the LA-MRSA bacteria.

LA-MRSA was identified in a single weaner out of a batch sent for post mortem by a Northern Ireland pig producer. This revealed that the animal had died of pneumonia, but the tests also found LA-MRSA to be present in its liver, lungs and spleen. There were no clinical signs of the disease in the weaner or the herd.

Until now, the UK herd was thought to be free of LA-MRSA in its pig herd. A study that looked at dust samples from pig units back in 2007 found no sign of the bacteria.

LA-MRSA is a problem among pigs in the United States, The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, among others. In The Netherlands, anyone associated with a pig unit is tested for LA-MRSA prior to elective surgery, and if positive will be refused treatment until they’re clear. Emergency cases involving people positive for LA-MRSA are treated in isolation units to prevent the bacteria getting a foothold in the hospital.

LA-MRSA is not notifiable and is not a public health issue as long as usual meat handling protocols are followed. Even is someone picks up the bacteria, they can carry and shed it with no ill effects unless their immune system is compromised. 

DARD told Pig World that the case posed no risk to the general public and was different from the MRSA strain that can be found in healthcare.

“LA-MRSA presents a low occupational risk for those working in close contact with infected livestock and is not a notifiable disease,” a spokesman added. “Meat from LA-MRSA affected animals is perfectly safe to eat provided normal good hygiene and thorough cooking practices are observed.”

Pig World understands that swabs have been taken from buildings on the affected unit to carry out tests for the presence of LA-MRSA, but no other action is being taken and the farm is continuing to operate as normal. LA-MRSA is an accepted fact of pig production in much of Continental Europe. It has also been identified in the UK dairy herd and can be carried in milk.

The Norwegian government recently culled a pig herd that tested positive for LA-MRSA. While said to be a move designed to help eradicate the problem, this high-profile step was also used to highlight the problem in Danish pigs in what’s generally considered to be a heavily protected pig market. 

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleWhy the dearth of independent ventilationists?
Next Article Peter Crichton’s commentary for August 1, 2014
PW Reporters

Read Similar Stories

UK livestock sectors urged to take part in survey on vaccine availability

May 14, 2025

APHA to use genomics to boost disease surveillance in £10m project

May 13, 2025

National PRRS control and biosecurity programme making strides in Scotland

May 9, 2025
Latest News

MPs call on Government to delay IHT reforms until 2027

May 16, 2025

Government eases Germany foot-and-mouth disease controls

May 16, 2025

Q1 margins tighten further as pig prices fall and costs rise

May 15, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1739 Devon

    • Devon
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1738 Co. Fermanagh

    • County Fermanagh
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Stockperson

    • Swaffham, Norfolk
    • DYER LIVESTOCK LTD
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.