Mafalda Pedro Mil-Homens

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), both economically detrimental to the swine industry, can be spread through contaminated truck cabins, posing significant transport biosecurity risks. This study evaluated the effectiveness of gaseous ozone technology in decontaminating PRRSV and PEDV on non-porous surfaces in truck cabins. An incomplete factorial study comprising 26 treatment groups, including controls, and ozone treatments at three capacities (30, 38, and 68 g/h) was conducted over varied exposure times (0.5, 1, or 2 hours) in a climate-controlled truck cabin, where PRRSV or PEDV contaminated rubber coupons were subjected to treatments under continuous environmental monitoring, followed by virus elution and titration in cell cultures. Statistical analyses included regression models and ANOVA with Tukey’s comparisons, standard deviations for ozone machines, and Pearson correlations between ozone concentration and environmental factors. Ozone treatments showed variable results with less than two-log viral titer reduction. Ozone concentrations varied across identical setups (SD: 4.75 ppm for 30 g/h, 5.43 ppm for 38 g/h machines) during the first 30 minutes, while across the entire study period, ozone concentration showed weak negative correlation with virus titer (p > 0.05), moderate positive correlation with temperature (r = 0.5, p < 0.0001), and moderate negative correlation with humidity (r = -0.56, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, ozone treatments showed inconsistent and limited effectiveness in PRRSV and PEDV decontamination, influenced by temperature and humidity under the tested conditions.

Livestock producers and veterinarians are at high risk of zoonotic disease exposure, yet protective practices are often inconsistent. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Armenia (387 livestock producers and 113 veterinarians) and the Republic of Moldova (373 livestock producers and 100 veterinarians). To analyze how education, knowledge, and risk perceptions influence personal biosecurity practices, specifically the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were employed. The findings revealed gaps in awareness and the implementation of preventive measures, including not using PPE to handle abortion materials or carcass disposal. In addition, risky behaviors such as feeding viscera to pets and selling unpasteurized milk were common. Although 40% of livestock producers reported having no formal training on zoonotic diseases, more than 80% indicated that they would like to learn more about the subject. Veterinarians' results reflected compliance with hygiene standards and a commitment to using PPE and implementing biosecurity measures. Additionally, greater self-reported knowledge on zoonotic diseases was associated with improved hygiene and more appropriate use of PPE in specific situations. The study underscores the critical role of education and effective communication between livestock producers and veterinarians in promoting safe practices. Addressing these gaps requires context-specific training and awareness, provision of affordable PPE, and institutional strengthening of veterinary services, framed within a One Health approach.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a significant cause of economic loss in the swine industry, yet its control remains challenging in wean-to-harvest sites. This prospective observational study followed 95 wean-to-harvest sites across six U.S. states for one production cycle. Sites were required to be PRRSV-negative or vaccinated with a modified live virus (MLV) and free of major coronaviruses. Outbreaks were defined as RT-qPCR-positive in unvaccinated sites or detection of ORF5 sequences distinct from the MLV strain. Biosecurity data were collected through a survey, and oral fluids were tested every four weeks. PRRS outbreaks occurred in 14/42 nurseries (33.3%), 8/12 wean-to-finish (66.7%), and 35/41 finishers (82.4%), with lineage 1C.5 most frequently detected. In univariate models, higher odds of outbreaks were associated with transporting pigs of unknown status (OR 9.80, 1.73–55.37), rendering (OR 6.47, 1.62–25.84), and employee cohabitation (OR 6.15, 1.51–25.09). Protective factors included exclusive pumping equipment (OR 0.07, 0.01–0.43) and overnight downtime for multi-site workers (OR 0.15, 0.04–0.56). In multivariable models, finisher sites (OR 17.47, 2.44–125.19) and greater swine site density within one mile (OR 1.62, 1.09–2.41) significantly increased outbreak odds. These results support targeted biosecurity practices, helping farmers and the swine industry reduce PRRS outbreaks.

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral illness that continues to threaten livestock health, productivity, and trade, particularly in countries like Türkiye where multiple FMD serotypes cocirculate. This study aimed to analyze the temporal and spatial distributions, serotype dynamics, and seasonal patterns of FMD in Türkiye between 2005 and 2025. The geographical distribution of national FMD surveillance data spanning 2005–2025 was analyzed, together with a time series analysis to evaluate trends and seasonality in the number of FMD‐reported outbreaks (number of villages affected by FMD outbreaks). Additionally, event‐driven outbreaks were assessed by analyzing the number of reported outbreaks when a serotype introduction occurred and during Kurban Bayramı festivities. The results showed that the number of FMD‐reported outbreaks peaked between 2010 and 2016, with serotype O accounting for the majority of reported outbreaks. A decline in outbreaks followed, likely attributable to expanded vaccination coverage, improved diagnostic capacity, and the implementation of targeted control measures. Seasonal patterns indicated a higher concentration of outbreaks during the spring months. Furthermore, it was noted that introductions of serotypes, lineages, or sublineages contributed to an increase in outbreaks in the months surrounding these events, and the same was observed when Kurban Bayramı festivities occurred. Although Türkiye has made progress in reducing the FMD burden, the emergence of new serotypes highlights the ongoing risk of serotype diversification and underscores the need for adaptable, serotype‐specific surveillance, and control strategies. Strengthening early detection systems, maintaining high vaccine coverage, and fostering regional cooperation remain essential for sustainable FMD management.

The nursery and finishing phases are critical for profitability and sustainability in swine production, but effective methods for early disease detection in these stages remain underdeveloped. This study used routinely collected production indicators from nursery (42–56 days postfarrowing) and finishing lots (115–120 days postfarrowing) to create production benchmark curves for anomaly detection. These curves were developed for farms without diagnosed health challenges and compared to those with diagnosed health issues, based on tissue submissions and diagnostic codes (Dx codes). Statistical methods such as resampling techniques, Bayesian statistics, and standard deviation (SD) thresholds were employed to build the benchmark curves. The main objective was to test and compare the benchmarks using detection, early detection rate (EDR), time‐to‐detect (TTD), and false positive rate (FPR). Results showed that bootstrapping (BOOT), jackknife (JK), and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods provided the highest EDRs, although they were prone to false positives. For nursery lots, it was observed that using cumulative average with one SD for feed disappearance (EDR 49.2% and FPR 9.8%) and estimated weight (EDR 47.2% and FPR 8.8%) showed the best balance between EDR and FPR, and using MCMC for mortality showed the best balance between EDR and FPR (EDR 38.8% and FPR 13.8%). For finishing lots, using cumulative average with one SD showed a more balanced performance with FPR below 14.0% and EDR of 21.3% for feed disappearance, 67.4% weight, and 59.7% for mortality. These findings demonstrate the potential of using production indicators for early health challenge detection in swine operations.