PRRS outbreak investigation pilot program: Lessons learned

摘要

It has been three decades since porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was first recognized in 1987 (Keffaber, 1989). Despite years of research and experience, the virus that causes PRRS still causes productivity losses worth $664 million annually (Holtkamp et al., 2013). While progress has been made, 20 to 40% of US breeding herds continue to experience outbreaks each year. Experimental research studies can tell us how a viurs can be transmitted from one herd to another (Perez et al, 2015), but cannot tell us the most frequent routes by which the virus is transmitted. Only systematic observation can answer that question. The objective of this project is to establish a program to assess the most frequent routes of viral transmission and help producers and veterinarians prioritize where to focus their bio-exclusion efforts to reduce the frequency of outbreaks in breeding herds over time.