Development and validation of a scoring system to assess the relative vulnerability of swine breeding herds to the introduction of PRRS virus

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2018Source: Preventive Veterinary MedicineAuthor(s): Gustavo S. Silva, Luis G. Corbellini, Daniel L.C. Linhares, Kimberlee L. Baker, Derald J. HoltkampAbstractBiosecurity is defined as the set of practices carried out to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious agents in a herd. These practices are essential in swine production, especially for highly infectious agents such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv). Even with years of research and experience over the last three decades, PRRSv is still causing productivity losses and is the major health problem affecting the global swine industry. Despite knowledge of the various ways in which the virus can be transmitted from one herd to another (e.g. animals, semen, truck, air, and people), determining the most frequent ways in which the virus is transmitted in the field is difficult. A systematic approach to assess vulnerabilities at a herd level related to PRRSv transmission could help producers prioritize biosecurity practices to reduce or avoid the occurrence of outbreaks. The aim of this study was to develop a biosecurity vulnerability score that represents the relative vulnerability of swine breeding herds to the introduction of PRRSv. To create the biosecurity vulnerability score (outcome), a multi-criteria decision analysis methodology was used to rank and quantify biosecurity practices based on expert opinion. To validate the biosecurity vuln...
Source: Preventive Veterinary Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research