Evaluation of alternative strategies to MERV 16-based air filtration systems for reduction of the risk of airborne spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a re-emerging disease of pigs and a growing threat to the global swine industry. For sustainable disease control it is critical to prevent the airborne spread of the etiologic agent, PRRS virus, between pig populations. The application of MERV 16-based air filtration systems to swine facilities in an effort to reduce this risk has been proposed; however, due to the cost and air flow restrictions of such systems the need for alternative strategies has arisen. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate 3 groups of alternative biosecurity strategies for reducing the risk of the airborne spread of PRRSV. Strategies evaluated included mechanical filters, antimicrobial filters and a disinfectant-EVAP (evaporative cooling) system. Results from this study indicate that while alternatives to MERV 16-based biosecurity protocols for protecting farms from the airborne spread of PRRSV are available, further information on their efficacy in the field is needed before conclusions can be drawn.
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. deexx004@umn.edu
Scott
S
Dee
Andrea
A
Pitkin
John
J
Deen
D000336:Aerosols; D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000399:Air Pressure; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000592:standards; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013552:Swine
D000336:Aerosols; D017931:DNA Primers