Top publications

July23_3
Top publications | July 2023 | Expertise article

Risk factors associated with Streptococcus suis cases on pig farms in Spain

Streptococcus suis can cause meningitis, polyarthritis and acute death in piglets. However, the risk factors associated with S. suis infection remain incompletely understood.

July23_2
Top publications | July 2023 | Expertise article

Comparative analysis of newly identified rodent arteriviruses and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus to characterize their evolutionary relationships

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has caused huge economic losses for the global pig industry, but its origins and evolution remain a mystery.

July23_1
Top publications | July 2023 | Expertise article

In-silico characterization of the relationship between the Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus prevalence at the piglet and litter levels in a farrowing room

Family oral fluids (FOF) sampling has been described as a sampling technique where a rope is exposed to sows and respective suckling litters and thereafter wrung to obtain fluids.

3_WEB
Top publications | April 2023 | Expertise article

The Role of Pathology in the Diagnosis of Swine Respiratory Disease

The definition “porcine respiratory disease complex” (PRDC) is used to indicate the current approach for presenting respiratory pathology in modern pig farming.

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Top publications | November

Changes in the Nasal Microbiota of Pigs Following Single or Co-Infection with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome and Swine Influenza A Viruses

Host-microbiota interactions are important in shaping immune responses that have the potential to influence the outcome of pathogen infection. However, most studies have focused on the gut microbiota and its possible association with disease outcome, while the role of the nasal microbiota and respiratory pathogen infection has been less well studied. Here we examined changes in the composition of the nasal microbiota of pigs following experimental infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2), swine influenza A H3N2 virus (H3N2) or both viruses. DNA extracted from nasal swabs were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to study the composition of the nasal microbiota. Bacterial richness fluctuated in all groups, with a slight reduction in pigs singly infected with PRRSV-2 and H3N2 during the first 5 days of infection compared to uninfected controls. In contrast, nasal bacterial richness remained relatively stable after PRRSV-2/H3N2 co-infection. PRRSV-2 and H3N2, alone or in combination differentially altered the abundance and distribution of bacterial families. Single and co-infection with PRRSV-2 or H3N2 was associated with the expansion of the Neisseriaceae family. A positive correlation between H3N2 viral load and the relative abundance of the Neisseriaceae was observed. However, further mechanistic studies are required to understand the significance of the changes in specific bacterial families following these viral infections.

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Top publications | November

Description of changes of key performance indicators and PRRSV shedding over time in a naïve breeding herd following a PRRS MLV exposure

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an important economic swine disease. The usage of PRRS-modified live vaccines (MLV) is the predominant breeding herd immunologic solution used in the United States to minimize the economic losses associated with wild-type PRRS infection. Most of the current information on the effects of contemporary PRRS MLV vaccination on breeding herd performance under field conditions comes from herds with previous PRRS virus (PRRSV) exposure. Hence, there is little information on key performance indicators (KPI) changes after the exposure to a PRRS MLV in PRRSV-naïve breeding herds. The main objective of this longitudinal observational study was to describe selected KPI changes in a naïve breeding herd after PRRS MLV exposure. The secondary objective was to describe the pattern of detection of PRRSV RNA by the quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in processing fluid samples. There were transient increases for mummies during weeks 4-23 (+0.86%); increased pre-weaning mortality on weeks 3-5 (+3.76%); a decrease in live born on weeks 4-5 (-0.46) leading to a decreased pig weaned/litter on weeks 5-10 (-0.69) and increased repeated services on weeks 3-23 (+5.53%). Transient changes observed after PRRS MLV exposures did not move total pigs weaned to outside the control intervals. Starting on week 83 and for 53 consecutive weeks, there was no PRRSV detection in processing fluids, even though two whole-herd MLV exposures occurred within that period.

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Top publications | November

Disinfection and conditions associated with thermo-assisted drying and decontamination inconsistently produce negative PRRSV rRT-PCR results on metal surfaces

Because contaminated livestock trailers are a significant risk for transmitting viruses between herds, various methods of washing, disinfecting, and thermo-assisted drying and decontamination (TADD) have been evaluated for their effectiveness in inactivating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on contaminated surfaces. Information on when to expect negative qRT-PCR results after adequate trailer sanitation is lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are conditions associated with washing-disinfectant-TADD procedures that will consistently produce a negative qRT-PCR result for the purpose of monitoring compliance with trailer sanitation and decontamination protocols for PRRSV on metal surfaces. 144 diamond plate aluminum coupons were spiked with PRRSV or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and treated with a designated disinfectant protocol. Disinfectants evaluated included multiple accelerated® hydrogen peroxide (AHP) disinfectants and a quaternary ammonium and glutaraldehyde combination disinfectant. Disinfectant was applied for 5 or 60 minutes of contact time at either 20 °C or −10 °C in a matrix of feces or PBS. All coupons were heated until the surface temperature of the coupon reached 71 °C and then held for 10 minutes to simulate TADD under field conditions. Post-treatment swabs for all treatment groups, except negative control groups, were positive by PRRSV qRT-PCR. Under the conditions evaluated in this study, consistently negative qRT-PCR results after treatments were not found. Therefore, for the purpose of monitoring compliance with trailer sanitation and decontamination protocols for PRRSV, alternatives to qRT-PCR should be explored.

3-october
Top publications | October

Proposed modifications to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus herd classification

A standardized system for classifying the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) status of swine herds is necessary for communication between veterinarians and producers. The 2011 classification system has been widely adopted by producers and veterinarians worldwide. In 2018, a working group met to revisit the system and make recommendations for changes. The most significant modification was to the classification of positive unstable and positive stable breeding herds. Recommended diagnostic protocols for promotion of herds to each status were modified and recommended diagnostic protocols to maintain a status were added. The growing pig classification for PRRSV was also modified.