Swine Health
Healthy Pigs. Healthy Industry. Healthy Communities.
Swine health is the foundation of Alberta’s pork industry. Healthy pigs lead to safe, high-quality pork and a sustainable, responsible sector that Albertans can trust. Maintaining herd health requires daily commitment from producers, veterinarians, transporters, and processors who all share the goal of preventing disease and protecting animal welfare.
Alberta Pork plays a key role in coordinating swine health efforts across the province. Working alongside national partners like the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network (CSHIN), and the Canadian West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN) we help ensure that producers have access to the latest disease information, risk alerts, and prevention strategies. Our focus is on proactive management—reducing the likelihood of disease introduction and spread through biosecurity, traceability, and transportation quality assurance.
Common Swine Diseases
Maintaining strong herd health starts with understanding the diseases that can affect pigs in Alberta. Early detection, strong biosecurity and close collaboration with your herd veterinarian are essential to protecting animal welfare, productivity and market access.
Below are key swine diseases relevant to Alberta producers, with direct links to authoritative resources from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Government of Alberta.
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African Swine Fever (ASF)
What it is:
A federally reportable, highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. ASF can cause severe illness and high mortality in swine.
Why it matters:
– Not present in Canada
– Significant trade and economic implications if detected
– No widely available commercial vaccine
Clinical signs may include:
– High fever
– Loss of appetite
– Skin discolouration
– Sudden death
Risk to Humans
There is no known risk to human health. ASF does not affect food safety, public health, or other types of animals.
Resources:
CFIA – African Swine Fever
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
What it is:
A federally reportable, highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including pigs, cattle and sheep. It spreads extremely rapidly among livestock.
Why it matters:
– It is not present in Canada
– Severe production and trade consequences
– Rapid spread through direct contact, aerosols and contaminated materials
Clinical signs may include:
– Blisters (vesicles) on the snout, mouth and feet
– Lameness
– Fever
– Reduced feed intake
Risk to Humans
Extremely low, negligible risk to human health, with cases being exceptionally rare and typically mild.
Resources:
CFIA – Foot and Mouth Disease
CWSHIN Outbreak Support Network
Porcine Circovirus 3 (PCV3)
What it is:
Porcine circovirus 3 is a relatively recently identified virus detected in pigs with a range of clinical presentations. Research is ongoing to better understand its role in disease.
Why it matters:
– Detected in pigs with reproductive issues and systemic inflammation
– Clinical significance still under investigation
– Herd-level monitoring and veterinary guidance are important
Clinical signs may include:
– Reproductive failure
– Dermatitis and nephropathy-like signs
– Multisystemic inflammation
Resources:
Porcine Circovirus 3 Factsheet
Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)
What it is:
A provincially reportable disease affecting the intestinal tract of pigs, similar to PED but generally associated with somewhat lower mortality in piglets. Also known as Swine delta coronavirus (SDCV).
Why it matters:
– Causes diarrhea and dehydration
– Spreads through fecal-oral transmission
– Managed primarily through biosecurity and sanitation
Clinical signs may include:
– Acute watery diarrhea
– Vomiting
– Dehydration
– Reduced weight gain
Resources:
Alberta.ca – Swine Delta Coronavirus
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED)
What it is:
A provincially reportable, highly contagious viral disease that affects the intestinal tract of pigs and spreads through manure-contaminated materials, equipment and transport.
Why it matters:
– Severe diarrhea and dehydration, particularly in piglets
– High mortality in young pigs
– Controlled primarily through strict biosecurity
Clinical signs may include:
– Watery diarrhea
– Vomiting
– Dehydration
– Reduced growth
Risk to Humans
There is no known risk to human health. PED does not affect food safety, public health, or other types of animals.
Resources:
Alberta.ca – Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea
CFIA – Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) in Canada
PED Toolkit:
PED – What to do if you’re in a buffer zone
Managing a PED Affected Farm
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
What it is:
A viral disease affecting both the reproductive and respiratory systems of pigs.
Why it matters:
– Reproductive losses in breeding herds
– Respiratory illness in nursery and grower pigs
– Ongoing production and cost impacts
Clinical signs may include:
– Abortions and weak-born piglets
– Laboured breathing
– Increased mortality
Resources:
Merck Veterinary Manual
Senecavirus A (Seneca Valley Virus)
What it is:
A viral disease that can cause vesicular (blister-like) lesions on the snout, mouth and feet of pigs. Clinical signs can resemble those of foreign animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
Why it matters:
– Clinical signs may trigger foreign animal disease investigations
– Important to report and rule out regulated diseases
– Typically mild in adult pigs, but neonatal mortality has been reported
Clinical signs may include:
– Blisters or ulcers on snout and coronary bands
– Lameness
– Fever
– Increased neonatal mortality
Resources:
CWSHIN Outbreak Support Network
Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep Zoo)
What it is:
A bacterial pathogen that can cause sudden death and septicemia in pigs. While it may be present without causing illness, certain strains are associated with severe outbreaks.
Why it matters:
– Rapid onset
– High mortality in affected groups
– Requires prompt veterinary involvement
Clinical signs may include:
– Sudden death
– Fever
– Depression
– Reluctance to stand
Resources:
Strep Zoo Factsheet
Swine Influenza
What it is:
A contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza A viruses circulating in pigs.
Why it matters:
– Rapid spread within barns
– Reduced feed intake and growth performance
– Some strains may have zoonotic potential
Clinical signs may include:
– Sudden coughing
– Fever
– Lethargy
– Decreased feed intake
Resources:
CFIA – Swine Influenza
Whether operating a large commercial facility or a small-scale farm, swine health isn’t only about preventing disease—it’s about building a culture of continuous improvement in animal care, food safety, and environmental responsibility.