Descriptive and risk analysis of vehicle movements linked to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and porcine epidemic diarrhea transmission in US commercial swine farms

TL;DR

This study analyzed vehicle movement patterns in US swine farms to identify risk factors for PRRS and PED transmission, revealing vehicle contact history as a key transmission pathway and informing targeted prevention strategies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of vehicle movement data linked to disease status, identifying specific risk factors and protective behaviors for PRRS and PED in swine farms.

Findings

Vehicle visit frequency increases disease risk.

Previous exposure to positive farms is a major risk factor.

Vehicle cleaning and disinfection are protective measures.

Abstract

Vehicle movements, including vehicle cabs and trailers, play a role in disseminating disease in swine production. However, there are many information gaps about vehicle movements patterns that increase the probability of disease transmission, which is crucial in developing better preventive strategies. In this study we described the movement pattern of vehicle cabs and trailers and identified risk factors for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) farm's infectious status. We collected global positioning system (GPS) movement data from vehicle cabs and trailers for 18 months and basic information for 6621 farms in the U.S. For the vehicle movement data, we estimated 66 variables and evaluate their association with farms PRRS and PED status. Our univariate analysis showed that 56 variables were significant associated (p < 0.05) to PED and PRRS farm status. Within these variables, vehicle visit frequency and previous exposition to positive farms were the main risk factors for both diseases. Otherwise, increased vehicle cab and trailer loyalty for farm shipments and vehicle cleaning and disinfection events were protective factors. In the multivariate model, each additional weekly visit by a vehicle cab that had been exposed to a positive farm one day before the shipment was associated with a 234\% and 243\% increase in the odds of a farm testing PRRS- and PED-positive, respectively. Our analysis revealed that vehicle contact history play a crucial role in the transmission of PRRS and PED. These findings can provide insights to develop more target strategies aimed at reducing the transmission and outbreaks linked to vehicle movements in swine production.