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Border disease (BD) was first reported in 1959 in lambs from the border region of England and Wales. The causative virus (BD virus; BDV) has since been identified in several other ruminant species and pigs. The virus is prevalent in sheep flocks of UK, Europe and USA and has potential to inflict substantial economic losses. Natural BDV infection of pigs was first reported in the UK in 1992 from pigs with haemorrhagic lesions and more recently from healthy pigs in Spain and Japan. Here, a persistent problem of poor growth and anaemia in a small proportion of growing pigs on a mixed pig and sheep holding was investigated and tissues were tested in a pan viral microarray.The microarray detected BDV RNA in several tissues which was further confirmed by sequencing, specific BDV PCR and immunohistochemistry. Phylogenetically, the virus clustered with other BDVs in the sub-genotype 1b. This investigation highlights likely interspecies transmission of pestiviruses and their impact on pestivirus detection and eradication programs.

Changes to the monthly APHA disease surveillance report in Veterinary Record THIS month sees the first of a new format for the monthly APHA Disease Surveillance Report published in Veterinary Record (see pp 37-41 of this issue). Readers will see that the format and content has changed to provide a report that brings together data and information from different sources of government-funded and other veterinary scanning surveillance activity. These include the network of APHA Veterinary Investigation Centres and non-APHA partner postmortem service providers in England and Wales, the APHA Species Expert Groups, the cross-agency Veterinary Risk Group, and horizon-scanning performed by the APHA's International Disease Monitoring team. Other sources will also be drawn upon in the future. The report aims to provide timely reporting of animal-related new and reemerging threats and other veterinary public health issues identified from these different surveillance sources. It also contains information and advice on selected current animal health, welfare and disease issues detected by the APHA's scanning surveillance network, as well as those which past surveillance data predict may arise according to season or other factors. It is intended that the information contained in this report, and other linked scanning surveillance outputs, can be used by vets, farmers, the wider livestock industry and government. This includes maintaining threat awareness, taking action to report, investigate, prevent and control disease and managing other risks that may be associated with the identified animal health threats. More information about veterinary scanning surveillance, including other surveillance reports, services available and disease information notes and alerts for farmers and vets, as well as information for Official Veterinarians, can be found on the APHA Vet Gateway: http://ahvla.defra.gov. uk/vet-gateway/index.htm

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