Measuring Progress on the Control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome as a Working Example

• Published in: PloS one 2016-02, Vol.11 (2)
• Main Authors: Valdes-Donoso, Pablo, Jarvis, Lovell S, Wright, Dave, Alvarez, Julio, Perez, Andres M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Distribution; Epidemiology; Measurement; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome; Risk factors
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149498

Due to the highly transmissible nature of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), implementation of regional programs to control the disease may be critical. Because PRRS is not reported in the US, numerous voluntary regional control projects (RCPs) have been established. However, the effect of RCPs on PRRS control has not been assessed yet. This study aims to quantify the extent to which RCPs contribute to PRRS control by proposing a methodological framework to evaluate the progress of RCPs. Information collected between July 2012 and June 2015 from the Minnesota Voluntary Regional PRRS Elimination Project (RCP-N212) was used. Demography of premises (e.g. composition of farms with sows = SS and without sows = NSS) was assessed by a repeated analysis of variance. By using general linear mixed-effects models, active participation of farms enrolled in the RCP-N212, defined as the decision to share (or not to share) PRRS status, was evaluated and used as a predictor, along with other variables, to assess the PRRS trend over time. Additionally, spatial and temporal patterns of farmers' participation and the disease dynamics were investigated. The number of farms enrolled in RCP-N212 and its geographical coverage increased, but the proportion of SS and NSS did not vary significantly over time. A significant increasing (p