Updated SHIC Fact Sheets for Porcine Circovirus 3, Porcine Astrovirus, and Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Now Available

As one of the Swine Health Information Center’s most accessed resources, swine disease fact sheets provide specific information on emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Fact sheets on PCV3, PAstV, and FMDV have recently been updated and published. New information encompasses disease outbreak demographics and impacts, virology and surveillance strategies, and incorporates peer-reviewed research results addressing multiple components of disease management. A key component of SHIC’s mission is to generate and communicate information for prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts for emerging swine disease threats. Providing current and up-to-date information through the curation of swine disease fact sheets supports this mission. 

SHIC’s fact sheet informational framework is supported by an in-depth literature review for each respective pathogen. Each section presents pathogen-specific information such as importance to the pork industry, public health impacts, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic detection, clinical presentation, and treatment for swine, as well as steps for prevention and control. Each fact sheet covers a disease-causing agent with pathogen-specific information. 

PCV3 has been associated with clinical signs similar to those caused by porcine circovirus 2, a major swine pathogen. However, many infections are subclinical, co-infections are common (including with PCV2), and PCV3 pathogenicity studies have yielded mixed results. PCV3 is considered an emerging swine pathogen with potential economic importance. The PCV3 fact sheet provides new details describing the differences between PCV2 and PCV3, including clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria for PCV3-associated disease. Implications for surveillance, control measures, and potential vaccine strategies to mitigate disease are also included. 

The PAstV fact sheet describes the various lineages that are known to circulate in US swine herds, with PAstV types 1, 2, and 4 being most commonly reported. Their roles as primary pathogens are not fully clear. The virus has been linked to gastrointestinal, neurological, and respiratory disease in pigs; however, PAstV has also been found in healthy animals and co-infections are common. Recent research has confirmed that PAstV-4 can be detected in the upper respiratory tract of clinically ill pigs and can cause tracheitis and bronchitis in piglets. Further research is needed across all aspects of this virus to better understand and prevent PAstV infection. 

FMD is a highly contagious vesicular disease of cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle and swine. The US has been negative for FMDV since the last reported case in 1929. In endemic areas and during outbreaks, FMD causes production losses and impacts on international trade. More recently, FMD has been detected in countries that have been negative for decades including Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. There are seven serotypes of FMDV (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, Asia 1). Recent detection and rapid spread of SAT1 and SAT2 noted in the April 2026 SHIC Newsletter, raise concerns regarding potential changes in introduction and transmission risks across the globe. The new FMD fact sheet highlights the history of the virus, viral characteristics, epidemiology, and immunity. The fact sheet reiterates that FMD should be considered a significant global pathogen for livestock and the changing transboundary routes of transmission could pose a risk to US swine. 

Providing publicly available, science-based fact sheets supports SHIC’s mission of minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through coordinated communication of key resources and improving swine health information.  

All SHIC swine disease fact sheets can be found here.

The Swine Health Information Center, launched in 2015 with Pork Checkoff funding, protects and enhances the health of the US swine herd by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data, and targeted research investments. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at [email protected] or Dr. Lisa Becton at [email protected].