Time Farms Stay Naïve for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Hesitation on eliminating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) from breeding herds exists since it is difficult to predict how long the herd will remain virus-free. We aimed to estimate the time that breeding herds remained virus-free (naïve) after PRRSV elimination was achieved. Methods: Production systems voluntarily shared their breeding herds’ health status weekly between July 2009 and October 2021. PRRSV incidence rate and the total number of days a breeding herd remained virus-free were estimated. Results: A total of 221 (17%) herds reached the naïve status 273 times. The median time sites remained in this status was approximately two years. The overall PRRS incidence rate after sites achieved a naïve status was 23.43 PRRS outbreaks per 100 farm years. Conclusion: Estimates obtained here provide insights on how frequently and for how long sites remain naïve, which contribute to informing management practices for PRRS control.