This is our Friday rubric: every week a new Science Page from the Bob Morrison’s Swine Health Monitoring Project. The previous editions of the science page are available on our website.
The objective of the study presented today was to evaluate the efficacy of of biosecurity procedures directed at minimizing transmission via personnel following different protocols in controlled experimental settings.
Four (4) groups were housed in different rooms:
- INF: Pigs infected with PEDV
- LB: Naive pigs which were exposed to personnel coming from the INF room without changing PPE at all
- MB: Naive pigs which were exposed to personnel coming from the INF room after washing their hands and face as well as changing footwear and clothing.
- HB: Naive pigs which were exposed to personnel coming from the INF room after showering as well as changing clothing and footwear.
Results are shown in the figure below. Naive pigs were exposed to personnel from 44h after the pigs in the INF group were infected with PEDV until 10 days post infection.
Key points:
- PEDV transmission is likely to occur with contaminated fomites in low biosecurity scenarios.
- Indirect contact transmission of PEDV can happen very rapidly. Transmission was detected 24h after personnel moved from infected to low biosecurity rooms (no change in clothes, boots or washing hands)
- Changing PPE (personal protective equipment) and washing skin exposed areas is beneficial to decrease the risk of PEDV transmission.