Abstract: The role of vehicle movement in swine disease dissemination: Novel method accounting for pathogen stability and vehicle cleaning effectiveness uncertainties

April 26, 2024 — 

Abstract: The role of vehicle movement in swine disease dissemination: Novel method accounting for pathogen stability and vehicle cleaning effectiveness uncertainties

Several propagation routes drive animal disease dissemination, and among these routes, contaminated vehicles traveling between farms have been associated with indirect disease transmission. In this study, we used near-real-time vehicle movement data and vehicle cleaning efficacy to reconstruct the between-farm dissemination of the African swine fever virus (ASFV). We collected one year of Global Positioning System data of 823 vehicles transporting feed, pigs, and people to 6363 swine production farms in two regions in the U.S. Without cleaning, vehicles connected up to 2157 farms in region one and 437 farms in region two. Individually, in region one vehicles transporting feed connected 2151 farms, pigs to farms 2089 farms, pigs to market 1507 farms, undefined vehicles 1760 farm, and personnel three farms. The simulation results indicated that the contact networks were reduced the most for crew transport vehicles with a 66% reduction, followed by vehicles carrying pigs to market and farms, with reductions of 43% and 26%, respectively, when 100% cleaning efficacy was achieved. The results of this study showed that even when vehicle cleaning and disinfection are 100% effective, vehicles are still connected to numerous farms. This emphasizes the importance of better understanding transmission risks posed by vehicles to the swine industry and regulatory agencies.

Galvis JA, Machado G. The role of vehicle movement in swine disease dissemination: Novel method accounting for pathogen stability and vehicle cleaning effectiveness uncertainties. Prev Vet Med. 2024 May;226:106168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106168. Epub 2024 Mar 6. PMID: 38507888.