Study shows transfer of H1N1 from humans to pigs

Humans aren’t the only ones susceptible to diseases like H1N1 influenza. Pigs can catch it from humans, too, according to research presented at an international symposium on pig diseases.

A research project examining swine populations in New Caledonia highlights how pigs can be infected by humans. New Caledonia is a group of islands located 1,500 kilometres east of Australia. Prior to the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, the pig population of New Caledonia was free from swine influenza.

Although the pigs of New Caledonia never showed any influenza symptoms, in December 2009 researchers began taking samples from sows to see if they had developed antibodies. Researchers found antibodies against Influenza A in 80 per cent of the tested farms, and further tests linked many of these antibodies to H1N1. Based on these initial results, researchers decided to continue testing the pigs.

Between June and August 2010, researchers took blood, nasal swab, and lung samples from 166 pigs at a slaughter plant. The pigs were randomly selected, and came from a total of 22 herds. All the pigs were born in 2010, after the pandemic had been through the human population.

Of the pigs at the slaughter plant, 11 per cent had antibodies against H1N1, which led researchers to believe that 27 per cent of the tested herds had been infected with H1N1 in 2010. Further testing revealed the presence of the Influenza A genome in two of the 22 herds.

Although the virus didn’t cause serious health problems for the pigs, its transfer between people and livestock may have consequences for human health and the pork industry. The researchers point out that the H1N1 infection in pigs may increase the reservoir of the virus.

As well, public perceptions around eating pork from previously infected pigs led to the complete cull of an Alberta herd in 2009. This is despite the fact that many organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, have clearly stated that people cannot catch H1N1 by eating pork.

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These research results were part of the proceedings from the International Symposium on Emerging and Re-Emerging Pig Diseases, which were recently posted to thepigsite.com. The symposium was held in Barcelona, Spain, last June.

It’s also worth noting that the Banff Pork Seminar is slated for January 17th to the 20th. The seminar will cover a wide range of topics, including animal welfare, labour, nutrition and feed, reproduction, feed efficiency, technology, disease, genomics, and more.