title: Farm level risk factors associated with severity of post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome.
abstract: A cross-sectional study involving 147 pig farms across England was conducted in 2008-2009. Farm severity of post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was estimated through the use of an algorithm that combined data on post-weaning mortality, PMWS morbidity and proportion of porcine circovirus type 2 PCR positive pigs. Farms were classified as non/slightly, moderately or highly affected by PMWS. Data on potential PMWS risk factors were collected through interviews, on-farm assessment and serological sampling. Risk factors were identified using multivariable ordinal logistic regression and multivariable linear regression. Factors associated with increased PMWS severity were rearing growers indoors (OR=23.7), requiring a higher number of veterinarian visits per year (OR=9.6), having poorly isolated hospital pens (OR=6.4), buying replacement boars (OR=4.8) and seropositivity to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (OR=4.29); factors associated with decreased PMWS severity were low stocking density for growers (OR=0.07), adjusting diets at least three times between weaning and 14 weeks of age (OR=0.12), and requiring visitors to be at least 2 days pig free (OR=0.14). This study provides evidence of the association between environmental and management factors and PMWS severity, and suggests that other pathogens may be important co-factors for the disease. In addition, this study highlights the potential efficacy of biosecurity measures in the reduction/prevention of within-farm PMWS severity.
authors: Royal Veterinary College, London, AL9 7TA, UK. palarcon@rvc.ac.uk
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Alarcon
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Velasova
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Mastin
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Nevel
authors: Katharina D C
authors: KD
authors: Stärk
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Wieland
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017925:Circovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D053570:Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral