Polski
ASF Won't Let Up, While Science Searches for New Leads in Canine Diagnostics
This week brings grim news from the Lublin region, where African swine fever has struck yet another farm — the ninth such case in Poland this year. But there's a silver lining from across the ocean: researchers in California are launching a project that could transform how a silent liver disease in dogs is detected, before it turns truly dangerous.
01 · Infectious Diseases
Ninth ASF Outbreak in Pigs This Year – This Time in Rachanie
On September 15, 2026, a new outbreak of African swine fever was confirmed in the Rachanie municipality, in Tomaszów County, in the Lublin Voivodeship [1]. This marks the ninth outbreak in domestic pigs in Poland since the start of 2026, and the second in the same voivodeship – a sign that the virus shows no sign of slowing down, despite months of preventive measures.
Veterinary services responded according to standard procedure: all 21 pigs from the infected farm will be culled, and the site will undergo thorough disinfection [1]. It's a routine yet always painful scenario for farmers, aimed at preventing the virus from spreading further to neighboring farms.
The scale of the problem is also evident in the wild boar population – since the start of the year, more than 1,660 ASF outbreaks have been recorded among wild boars, mainly in the north of the country and in the Subcarpathian region [1]. It's a reminder that the fight against ASF isn't just about biosecurity on pig farms, but also long-term wild boar population management and large-scale epidemiological monitoring – a topic that regularly comes up at industry conferences and expert panels.
02 · Laboratory Diagnostics
UC Davis on the Trail of a Silent Liver Disease in Labradors
On a completely different note, but equally significant, comes news from the US. On September 14, 2026, a team from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine launched a study into copper-associated hepatopathy in Labrador Retrievers – a liver condition that can develop for years without any visible symptoms [2]. The project is funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, which in itself shows how much importance the industry places on early detection of genetic diseases in predisposed breeds.
At the heart of the project are non-invasive blood tests designed to catch the disease at an early stage – before serious, often irreversible liver damage occurs [2]. Interestingly, dogs taking part in the study have their liver biopsy costs covered, which is meant to encourage owner participation while also verifying the effectiveness of the new blood markers against the diagnostic gold standard.
For manufacturers of diagnostic equipment and reagents, this is a good example of the direction the entire industry is heading: fewer invasive procedures, and more diagnostics based on simple blood tests performed routinely, before the patient even becomes ill.
Summary
Summary
This week reveals two faces of modern veterinary medicine – on one hand, the still-unresolved problem of ASF, demanding constant vigilance, biosecurity, and swift response from the authorities; on the other, advances in laboratory diagnostics that could transform the care of companion animals. Both threads – the fight against infectious diseases in livestock and modern diagnostics for small animals – will be topics of discussion at VETERINARY Expo Poland – Targi Produktów i Innowacji dla Medycyny Weterynaryjnej. Stay tuned for the next installment of our industry roundup!
Invitation
From ASF outbreaks to non-invasive liver diagnostics – these are exactly the topics that will be actively discussed at VETERINARY Expo Poland – Targi Produktów i Innowacji dla Medycyny Weterynaryjnej. Meet manufacturers of diagnostic equipment, biosecurity experts, and practitioners who face these challenges every day. Save the date and stay up to date with what's really changing the industry.
VETERINARY Expo Poland 2026Footnotes
[1] Farmer.pl — https://www.farmer.pl/produkcja-zwierzeca/trzoda-chlewna/nowe-ognisko-asf-u-swin-na-lubelszczyznie-to-juz-dziewiate-w-2026-roku,183751.html[2] UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine — https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/tackling-hidden-threat-new-study-aims-defeat-copper-hepatopathy-labradors