title: Evidence of long distance airborne transport of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.
abstract: The ability of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to be transported over long distances via the airborne route was evaluated. A source population of 300 grow-finish pigs was experimentally inoculated with PRRSV MN-184 and M. hyopneumoniae 232 and over a 50-day period, air samples were collected at designated distances from the source herd using a liquid cyclonic collector. Samples were tested for the presence of PRRSV RNA and M. hyopneumoniae DNA by PCR and if positive, further characterized. Of the 306 samples collected, 4 (1.3%) were positive for PRRSV RNA and 6 (1.9%) were positive for M. hyopneumoniae DNA. The PRRSV-positive samples were recovered 4.7 km to the northwest (NW) of the source population. Four of the M. hyopneumoniae-positive samples were obtained at the NW sampling point; 2 samples at approximately 2.3 km and the other 2 samples approximately 4.7 km from the source population. Of the remaining 2 samples, one sample was obtained at the southeast sampling point and the other at the southwest sampling point, with both locations being approximately 4.7 km from the source. The four PRRSV-positive samples contained infectious virus and were >/= 98.8% homologous to the MN-184 isolate used to inoculate the source population. All 6 of the M. hyopneumoniae-positive samples were 99.9% homologous to M. hyopneumoniae 232. These results support the hypothesis that long distance airborne transport of these important swine pathogens can occur.
authors.affiliation: Swine Disease Eradication Center, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. deexx004@umn.edu
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dee
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otake
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deen
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000818:Animals; D045705:Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae / Q000502:physiology*; D045729:Pneumonia of Swine, Mycoplasmal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D014919:Wind