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BACKGROUND: On April 27, 2013 twenty-one feeder pigs were purchased and housed in an outdoor pen on a rural premise. On June 20, the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) was notified of a positive rabies report in one of the 21 pigs. There had not been a report of rabies in swine since 1992 in North Dakota. The NDDoH and the Department of Agriculture’s Board of Animal Health (BOAH) initiated a joint public health investigation.
METHODS: The owners of the pig were interviewed to identify potential exposures and gather pertinent information surrounding the litter. Six individuals on the premise during the potential viral shedding period were assessed for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Health status of the remaining pigs was evaluated and recommendations were given to prevent further transmission.
RESULTS: On June 15, the owners noted pig A showing signs of illness including hind-limb paralysis, twitching and vocalization. The same day, a second pig (pig B) showed signs of illness including ataxia, recumbency and vocalization. Pig A and B were euthanized and discarded by the owners. On June 16, a third pig (pig C) showed clinical illness similar to pigs A and B. The owners contacted a veterinarian that submitted pig C to the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for clinical testing. Pig C tested positive for rabies on June 20. On June 23, a fourth pig (pig D) became ill and was tested for rabies at the NDDoH’s Division of Laboratory Services. Pig D tested positive for rabies on June 27. Samples from pigs C and D were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rabies Laboratory for antigenic typing. Both specimens were North Central United States skunk variant. Four of the six people assessed were recommended to receive rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. One pet dog that was current on rabies vaccinations received a booster.
CONCLUSIONS: It was recommended that the remaining pigs be euthanized and safely discarded. The owners resisted euthanization. The pigs were originally purchased for slaughter and human consumption, therefore based on Food Safety Inspection Service guidelines, the pigs were required to be quarantined for 8 months from their last known exposure. Random visits by the BOAH occur to ensure quarantine status. Since the quarantine was issued, one pig died and tested negative for rabies. The remaining 16 pigs are quarantined on the owner’s premise. As of January 1, 2014, no additional sick pigs have been reported.