Study Finds Multiple Swine Pathogens Common in Cases
An Iowa State University study funded by the Swine Health Information Center reviewed tens of thousands of swine disease cases to examine co-diagnoses.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Diseases — General
Iowa State University researchers, working with the Swine Health Information Center, found that about 53 percent of swine disease cases involved co-diagnoses, meaning two or more distinct causes were identified within a single case. The study assessed 58,000 cases from January 2020 to September 2025, with 45,000 used for final analysis.
Why it matters
Detecting multiple pathogens in one diagnostic investigation can complicate diagnosis and treatment decisions for swine producers. The findings offer a data-based view of how often viral and bacterial causes occur together in Iowa's swine herds.
The study reviewed 58,000 cases and used 45,000 for final analysis, with 53 percent classified as co-diagnoses involving two or more distinct causes. The source does not specify which pathogen combinations were most common or how co-diagnoses affected animal health outcomes.
The players
Iowa State University
A public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, known for its veterinary medicine and agricultural research programs.
Swine Health Information Center
A non-profit organization funded by U.S. pork producers that supports research and disease surveillance to protect swine health.
The details
Researchers assessed each case by reviewing its history, pathology, and laboratory testing, then assigned each case a standardized diagnostic code. The study measured how often both viral and bacterial pathogens were detected together within the same case.
Timeline
January 2020 to September 2025: period of cases assessed in the study.
October 2026: SHIC's October eNewsletter publishes full study details.
Health Landscape
The study builds on the Swine Health Information Center's ongoing diagnostic research program, which tracks disease patterns across U.S. swine operations. Its finding that more than half of cases involved co-diagnoses adds quantitative detail to how multiple infections are identified in practice.
Producers who see multiple pathogens in a single sample may need to revisit diagnostic and treatment plans for their herds. The findings suggest that testing for more than one cause at once could be a routine part of swine health management.
The takeaway
Finding more than one cause in a single swine case is common, so herd managers may benefit from testing broadly rather than assuming one pathogen. Producers can review the full study details in the Swine Health Information Center's October eNewsletter.
Further reading
Explore more on Diseases — General to see how multiple infections are identified and tracked across animal and human health.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farmscape.
