Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425981
Research Project: Managing Nutrients and Assessing Pathogen Emission Risks for Sustainable Dairy Production Systems

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Groundwater surveillance of swine pathogens from private wells supplying swine farms in Iowa

Author
item DOUGHAN, GABRIELLE - Iowa State University
item WALTHART, BECCA - Iowa State University
item MONCRIEF, MICHELE - Iowa State University
item SNEZEK, ELISE - Iowa State University
item SKOLAND, KRISTIN - Iowa State University
item FIRNSTAHL, AARON - Iowa Geological Survey
item GAUGER, PHILLIP - Iowa State University
item BROWN, JUSTIN - Iowa State University
item BONNEMA, J.L. - Iowa State University
item BORCHARDT, MARK - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Heffron, Joseph
item STOKDYK, JOEL - Iowa Geological Survey
item Burch, Tucker
item KARRIKER, LOCKE - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2025
Publication Date: 6/24/2025
Citation: Doughan, G.E., Walthart, B.K., Moncrief, M.I., Snezek, E., Skoland, K.J., Firnstahl, A.D., Gauger, P.C., Brown, J.T., Bonnema, J., Borchardt, M.A., Heffron, J.A., Stokdyk, J.P., Burch, T.R., Karriker, L.A. 2025. Groundwater surveillance of swine pathogens from private wells supplying swine farms in Iowa. Meeting Abstract. June24-25, 2025.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Groundwater from private wells is a poorly understood biosecurity risk for pathogen transmission on swine farms. The objective of this study was to survey private wells supplying swine farms using dead-end ultrafiltration with subsequent quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect endemic swine pathogens and swine manure markers. Organisms included porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus genotype 2, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), rotavirus C, swine influenza A virus, Cryptosporidium spp., Salmonella spp., enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and two swine Bacteroidales markers. Private wells supplying 40 unique commercial swine farms in Iowa were sampled in the spring (n=20) and fall (n=20) of 2024. Enrolled farms included growing pig operations (n=36), breeding farms (n=3), and one nursery. Average pig inventory was estimated to be ~3200 head across all farms. Control samples were collected in the field for each field sample, and control samples were tested for all organisms if the corresponding field sample tested positive for any organism. Endemic swine pathogens and manure markers were detected in spring (7 / 20 samples) and fall (3 / 20 samples). Pig Bacteroidales markers were detected most frequently (7 / 40 samples). Other detections included Cryptosporidium spp. and PCV2 (= 3 samples each); five samples contained two or more detected organisms. Tested control samples were negative for all organisms, except for one control sample that tested positive for PCV2 and no other organisms. Results demonstrate that groundwater from private wells can be a biosecurity risk for swine farms and indicate a need for further research evaluating waterborne pathogen transmission on swine farms.