PFTS in 5 Canadian provinces and 11 US states
The relatively novel Periweaning Failure to Thrive Syndrome (PFTS) has been reported in five Canadian provinces and 11 US states so far.
This was the outcome of a questionnaire research by joint researchers in the US and Canada. For the first time, they managed to establish the mean flow prevalence of PFTS in both countries.
The syndrome was described in 2012 at the IPVS Congress in Jeju, South Korea – and at that time further research was needed to find out more about the extent and character of the syndrome. At the time it was described as ‘a clinical condition within seven days of weaning, in which affected pigs become anorexic, lethargic and then progress to debilitation’.
In total, 55 questionnaires were completed, with respondents servicing 1,974 nursery flows. The reported mean flow prevalence of PFTS was 4.3%. The within-flow prevalence was reported to be variable (1% to 20%).
The questionnaire was beta tested, and then made available through the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) and University of Guelph Web sites. Swine practitioners in major swine-producing regions of Canada and the United States completed the questionnaire to estimate the prevalence and impact of PFTS in nursery flows. To raise awareness and to aid in consistent recognition and reporting of the syndrome, a video was produced and accompanied the questionnaire. Oral, scientific-poster, and video presentations were also made at major swine-practitioner meetings across Canada and the United States to promote awareness of the syndrome and questionnaire.
Common clinical signs observed by practitioners and associated with PFTS, had to be ranked as well.
In the publication at the website aasv.org, the researchers wrote: “It is reasonable to expect this estimated prevalence to change as we continue to understand the syndrome. Video documentation, including demonstration of the clinical signs associated with PFTS, was an effective method to raise awareness of the syndrome.”
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