Porcine Seneca Valley Virus Infection – NAVLE Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Senecavirus A (SVA), formerly known as Seneca Valley Virus (SVV), is a non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Senecavirus within the family Picornaviridae. This virus causes vesicular disease in pigs that is clinically indistinguishable from high-consequence transboundary animal diseases including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), swine vesicular disease (SVD), vesicular stomatitis (VS), and vesicular exanthema of swine (VES).

SVA is critically important on the NAVLE because any suspected vesicular disease in swine requires immediate foreign animal disease (FAD) investigation. The virus was first identified in 2002 as a cell culture contaminant and was named after Seneca Creek State Park in Maryland. Since 2015, outbreaks have increased dramatically in Brazil, the United States, Canada, China, Thailand, Colombia, and other countries.

Etiology

Viral Classification

Key Characteristics: Non-enveloped viruses like SVA are generally more resistant to environmental conditions and disinfection than enveloped viruses. The virus has extended persistence in the environment, which is an important characteristic for disease control.