In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Arthur Finatto, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, explores the role of porcine beta-defensin peptides in boosting swine immunity. He explains how these molecules fight both bacterial and viral infections, modulate inflammation, and offer promise for swine dysentery management. Learn how genetic selection and nutrition could optimize their expression. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Porcine β-defensin five is a naturally produced peptides that help pigs combat bacterial and viral infections at a cellular level."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Arthur Finatto earned his D.V.M. from Universidade de Passo Fundo, an M.Sc. in Animal Welfare & Epigenetics from the University of São Paulo, and a Ph.D. in Swine Health from the University of Saskatchewan. Now a postdoctoral researcher in swine health and immunology, his work explores host defense peptides and mucosal immunity.

Click here to read the full research articles:

Porcine β-defensin 5 (pBD-5) modulates the inflammatory and metabolic host intestinal response to infection

Active Participatory Regional Surveillance for Notifiable Swine Pathogens

To learn more, visit:

US Swine Health Improvement Plan

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:06) Introduction
• (02:33) Porcine defensin discovery
• (04:05) Mechanism of action
• (06:26) Breed and nutritional impact
• (08:36) Swine dysentery link
• (10:46) Future applications
• (12:06) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mariamawit Mohammed from Iowa State University shares her work on pathogen diversity in Live Virus Inoculation (LVI) materials. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), she discusses the variability in LVI materials used in the swine industry, highlighting pathogen risks and implications for herd health. Learn how LVI practices may influence herd stability and loss rates. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The recommendation would be to really make sure that we have a pure, good quality LVI. If we manage to keep doing that, we can reach a good time to stability sooner with fewer losses."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mariamawit Zekarias Mohammed is a postgraduate student and researcher at Iowa State University, with a focus on the genome of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Ethiopia. Her work evaluates PRRSV lineages, LVI preparation methods, and pathogen variability.

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Dr. Chris Rademacher: Practical Sow Health Tips | Ep. 125

Dr. Pablo Piñeyro: PCV4 & Co-infections | Ep. 139

Dr. Reid Philips: PRRS Vaccine Efficacy | Ep. 143

What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:40) Introduction
• (02:08) Research on LVI materials
• (03:20) Scope of research & findings
• (04:53) Variations in LVI preparation
• (06:07) Pathogens discovered in LVI
• (08:15) Implications for herd health
• (10:35) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sebastiaan Theuns, veterinarian, CEO and co-founder of PathoSense, a spinoff from Ghent University, explains how nanopore sequencing is transforming the diagnosis of complex swine diseases. He discusses the limitations of targeted PCR testing, the advantages of whole-sample sequencing, and how new pathogens can be identified through comprehensive data analysis. Listen now on all major platforms!

"We developed a complete diagnostic platform from field sampling to lab sequencing that identifies all viruses and bacteria without needing prior selection."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Sebastiaan Theuns is a veterinarian, CEO and co-founder of PathoSense, a spin-off from Ghent University delivering full-spectrum diagnostics using nanopore sequencing. His work focuses on redefining how swine health practitioners detect complex infectious diseases without relying on targeted testing.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:16) Introduction
• (03:06) Nanopore sequencing explained
• (04:28) Diagnostic insights
• (05:21) Choosing better samples
• (06:37) Diagnostic turnaround time
• (07:24) Cost and accessibility
• (13:26) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Xiaomei Yue from the University of Minnesota discusses PEDV eradication strategies and metrics used to track disease control effectiveness on sow farms. She shares new data comparing time to stability across epidemic and endemic periods, and explains how farm size and outbreak frequency impact recovery. Listen now on all major platforms!

"PEDV does not hide well in the barn, which makes monitoring outcomes more reliable across systems."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Xiaomei Yue earned her Ph.D. in Animal Health Economics from Wageningen University and is currently a postdoctoral associate at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As part of the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project, her research focuses on the production and economic impacts of disease surveillance systems, particularly on PEDV control in U.S. swine herds.

Click here to learn more!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:12) Introduction
• (02:28) Pedv monitoring systems
• (04:05) Time to stability
• (05:31) Farm-level outbreak data
• (06:47) Epidemic vs. endemic
• (09:44) Risk factors analysis
• (13:00) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Fernanda Perosa discusses the results of an extensive necropsy survey across nursery farms in southern Brazil. She outlines the diagnostic strategies used, the leading infectious agents found, and how findings informed vaccine protocols. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death and illness for piglets."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Fernanda Felicetti Perosa holds a DVM from Instituto Federal Catarinense and a Master's in Veterinary Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where she is also pursuing her Ph.D. Her research centers on veterinary pathology and toxicology, with emphasis on swine health diagnostics.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (01:05) Introduction
• (02:23) Necropsy survey methods
• (04:19) Disease diagnosis approach
• (05:28) Infectious patterns in piglets
• (08:05) Seasonal effects on mortality
• (08:50) Applying results
• (10:00) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this special episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lukas Schwarz, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, explores a highly relevant topic for the summer season: the risks and impacts of stable flies in pig production. He shares new insights into disease transmission and provides strategies for effective pest control. Learn what swine professionals can do to prevent fly-borne pathogens. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The stable fly is a bloodsucking insect with a painful bite that creates stress and potential pathogen transmission among swine."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Lukas Schwarz earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Ph.D. from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, where he is currently a postdoctoral researcher in swine medicine. His expertise lies in parasite-related swine health and integrated pest control strategies. His current research focuses on stable flies and their role in disease transmission within pig farms.

Click here to read the full research articles:

The Stable Fly as a Possible Vector Transmitting Pathogens in Austrian Pig Farms

Bleeding skin lesions in gestating sows of a piglet producing farm in Austria

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:58) Introduction
• (03:01) Stable fly insights
• (05:18) Parasite-related diseases
• (06:28) Transmission to pigs
• (08:43) Fly control strategies
• (11:38) Barn sanitation practices
• (13:27) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Mariana Kikuti shares the latest findings on PRRSV variant trends, genetic diversity, and time-to-stability challenges across U.S. production systems. She explains the monitoring process behind variant classification and the obstacles faced when collecting epidemiological data. Discover practical insights into managing multi-strain outbreaks and improving disease surveillance systems. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The main limitation in PRRSV surveillance is the need for data to come directly from people experiencing outbreaks to share the data."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Mariana Kikuti holds a DVM from the Universidade Federal do Paraná, an MPH, and a PhD in epidemiology from the Universidade Federal da Bahia. As a Researcher at the University of Minnesota, her work centers on swine infectious disease surveillance and PRRSV molecular epidemiology. Her expertise supports better outbreak understanding and disease transmission analysis.

Click here to read the full research article!

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:46) Introduction
• (02:00) Variant monitoring process
• (03:30) Genetic sequence analysis
• (04:25) PRRSV diversity trends
• (09:37) Data sharing vs. public health
• (10:57) Stability time challenges
• (14:10) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

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In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Evan Grusenmeyer from the University of Missouri breaks down what genetic engineering really means for the swine industry. He outlines key concepts like transgenics, gene editing, and introgression, and discusses where this technology could take us, especially regarding disease resistance. Learn how these tools might help producers face today’s biggest health challenges. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Genetic engineering is a tool that takes us to the next level by enabling targeted changes to traits that need to be changed, amended, or brought into the population."

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Evan Grusenmeyer holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri, with a research focus on genetic engineering in swine. Currently serving as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Missouri's Division of Animal Sciences, he brings valuable insight into how gene editing technologies can help swine health challenges.

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What you will learn:

• (00:00) Highlight
• (00:41) Introduction
• (02:30) Genetic engineering basics
• (03:30) What is transgenic
• (04:53) Knockouts and mutations
• (08:13) Disease resistance focus
• (09:50) Technology limitations
• (14:04) Closing thoughts

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:

* Boehringer Ingelheim

- Farm Health Guardian

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

Website: The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast

Instagram: Swine Campus

LinkedIn: Swine Campus