Background: PRRS outbreak management program (POMP) is an epidemiological study with the objective to track and benchmark the aspects and practices implemented in breeding herds following PRRS outbreak.
Eligibility and exclusion criteria: The eligibility criteria to enroll breeding herds into the project include: (a) breeding herd reporting PRRS outbreak, and working on a plan to control and/or eliminate the infection; (b) producer willing to share diagnostic results on an automated basis using the Animal Health Monitoring and Evaluation System (AHMES) web-platform; (c) herd veterinarian committed to complete a short survey with information about the PRRS management plan following the outbreak, and revising the survey on a quarterly basis until herd achieved the desired status (i.e. stability); (d) share weekly production data for 52 weeks prior to outbreak, and 52 weeks after the outbreak; (e) plan to monitor the affected herd by sampling over time, with either weekly processing fluids, or monthly suckling pig bleeding (n=30). The exclusion criteria of breeding herds include events that impact the outcomes, including outbreak with other diseases such as porcine epidemic diarrhea, or herd going through a significant change in sow inventory (± 20%).
Herd classification and outcomes: Using a standardized PRRS status classification scheme (based on AASV terminology), herds will be classified as ‘positive unstable’, ‘positive at low prevalence’, ‘positive stable’, ‘provisional negative’, and ‘naïve’. Diagnostic results will be pushed on an automated basis to AHMES. Based on changes in diagnostic results over time, we will describe the success rate and the time to change in PRRS status. Moreover, the productivity data will be used to calculate time to baseline productivity (TTBP) and the severity of PRRS outbreak (total loss). We expect that information collected in the survey will help explain variability in the outcomes.
Optional information: Furthermore, veterinarians from participating herds will be offered the opportunity to share data on PRRSV whole genome sequencing (WGS). Data from participating herds will be aggregated to allow studies on the effect of viral genetic variability, and/or genetic markers on the outcomes of the study.
Project deliverables: This project will produce monthly and quarterly summary reports with aggregated data. Reports will benchmark key survey aspects and practices being implemented in participating farms, and measures of association between such practices and the success rate and/or time to achieve ‘low prevalence’, ‘stability’, ‘provisional negative’, and ‘naïve’. Moreover, we will investigate and report associations between key survey factors and diagnostic patterns on TTBP, and impact on productivity. For farms sharing PRRSV genetic information, we will aggregate data and share information on the effect of viral diversity, number of strains, and rate of change on the success rate and TTS and TTBP-related metrics. Veterinarians and producers will benefit with results of this study to make evidence-based decision on PRRS management in sow farms.
Data handling and confidentiality statement: We assure that all information captured for this study will be used exclusively for this study. Raw data from enrolled herds will be kept at a data encrypted, secure server at Iowa State University. Leticia Linhares will handle the diagnostic data, and Daniel Linhares will handle management of production and survey data. Daniel Linhares and one graduate student enrolled in the Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine graduate program will consolidate the database (diagnostics, production, survey, WGS) and conduct the analyzes and reports. We assure that raw data will not be shared with others. Herd-level data will be anonymized and aggregated to preserve confidentiality before presenting in any conference or media. The project leadership team (Aaron Lower, Clayton Johnson, Gustavo Silva, Cesar Corzo, Leticia Linhares, and Daniel Linhares) will discuss the format and content of analyzes and be available to discuss results with project participants. Results will be first shared between participants at least 1 week in advance of any form of publication or presentation.
Voluntary participation: Your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time by letting us know of this decision. If you have any questions, concerns or problems, feel free to call me at any time. Thank you for considering our request.
Preliminary results:
Questions? Please contact us at trevisan@iastate.edu or linhares@iastate.edu.