Environmental contamination and pig disease: an Australian microbe evolves

  • Lyras, Dena (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
  • Clements, Archie (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Riley, Thomas (Chief Investigator (CI))

Project: Research

Project Details

Project Description

The Australian pig industry produces pork commodities from over 4.75 million pigs per year. Infectious
diseases in industrial-scale piggeries can have a devastating effect on pork production, particularly on feed
conversion efficiency and growth rates, and can pose downstream environmental contamination and food
safety risks. This project will assess a current infectious disease problem in pigs by studying a microbe that
appears to have uniquely evolved in Australia. These results will inform the rational design of monitoring,
prevention and treatment strategies to minimise infection outbreaks in Australian pigs and will result in
production benefits to the pork industry, reduced environmental microbial contamination and safer food.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/01/15 → 31/12/17

Funding

  • Australian Research Council (ARC): A$415,300.00
  • Monash University
  • University of Western Australia
  • Australian National University (ANU)