July 18, 2011

 

Welsh pig farms contract Bovine TB
 
 
Three pig farms in Wales have been detected with Bovine TB recently, emphasising the fact that pigs are also vulnerable to the disease.

 

According to the Welsh Assembly, investigations are underway to establish if any other pig herds linked to the incidents are infected.

 

Animal health officials said that pigs kept outdoors in areas where TB is prevalent in cattle and wildlife are likely to be at increased risk of exposure to infection than those which are housed.

 

Compared with infected cattle, however, pigs are far less likely to transmit infection to other animals.

 

Although pigs can be skin tested, TB testing of pigs is not undertaken routinely, with slaughterhouse surveillance being the main way of detecting the infection.

 

The carcasses of all slaughtered pigs are routinely examined by Food Standards Agency staff at abattoirs and Veterinary Laboratories Agency premises when lesions suspected of being due to TB are detected in a carcass.

 

Further infected pigs have been identified on the farms concerned by follow up TB testing.

 

There is a legal obligation on herd owners and vets to report any suspected cases of TB to their local animal health office.

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