In-silico characterization of the relationship between the PRRS virus prevalence at the piglet and litter levels in a farrowing room

 PCR-based testing of FOF reveals presence of PRRS virus RNA only at the litter level, as opposed to conventional individual-animal-based sampling methods that demonstrate PRRSV RNA at the piglet level. The relationship between the PRRSV prevalence at the individual piglet level and at the litter level in a farrowing room has not been previously characterized. Using Monte Carlo simulations and data from a previous study, the relationship between the proportion of PRRSV-positive (viremic) pigs in the farrowing room, the proportion of litters in the farrowing room with at least one viremic pig, and the likely proportion of litters to be positive by a FOF RT-rtPCR test in a farrowing room was characterized, taking into account the spatial distribution (homogeneity) of viremic pigs within farrowing rooms.

Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke, Eduardo de Freitas Costa, Vinicius Weide, Swaminathan Jayaraman, Gustavo S. Silva & Daniel C. L. Linhares . Porcine Health Management volume 9, Article number: 14 (2023) 

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