Biosecurity of PRRS - pros and cons of air filtration - Bryan Myers, D.V.M., Pipestone Clinic, from the 2012 World Pork Expo, June 6-8, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

1. Air filtration for PRRS Control
Bryan Myers DVM
Pipestone Veterinary Clinic of Iowa

2. PRRS
• First diagnosed in late 1980’s
• Numerous interventions have been tried to
control this disease, but…………
• 25 years later it is still estimated to be costing
the swine industry over 600 million dollars per
year.
• Do we need to start thinking out of the box?
Air Filtration??

3. Air Filtration
What is involved in air filtration?
How do I decide if I should filter my farm?
What determines success?

4. Air Filtration – Filtering all incoming air

5. Air Filtration – Control Backdrafting

6. Air Filtration – Protocol Changes
Entryway
Weaned pig loadout
Cull sow loadout
Mortality removal
Entry of supplies
Getting things in and out of the space shuttle
while in space.

7. Air Filtration - Cost
Initial Cost
Dependent upon:
Type of Facility
Number of barns, Size of rooms, Gilt Development
Age of Facility
New facility (2-5 years) vs. Older facility (5-15 years)
Current Ventilation Etc….
Attic Ventilation vs. Cool cell etc…
$250.00 - $300.00 per sow
Routine Maintenance Cost
Filter replacement, backdraft replacement, labor
$1.00 per weaned pig

8. Decision to Filter a Farm
Determine Risk
Location
Pig Density
Frequency of Breaks
Other
Severity of Breaks
Pigflow
Economic Impact
Cost of PRRS breaks
Cost of Filtration

9. Determining Risk – Location/Pig Density

10. Determining Risk – Pig Density
21,000 pigs to impact farm in a 5 134,000 pigs to impact farms in a
mile radius 5 mile radius

11. 2800 sow farm

12. 16,000 pig spaces within 2 miles

13. PRRS Break Frequency and Severity
Farm A Farm B
• PRRS Breaks • PRRS Breaks
– December 2008 – November 2007
– December 2009 – January 2010
– January 2011
• Frequency • Frequency
– 12-13 months – 26 months
• Estimated cost f - f • Estimated cost f - f
– 1.8 million dollars – 450 thousand dollars
Filter Yes or No? Filter Yes or No?

14. Decision to Filter a Farm
Pigflow
All in - All out sites?
Multiple growing pigs on single site?
Commingled pigflow?
Execution
Older buildings?
Multiple buildings?
Commitment to protocols?

15. What determines success?
Never breaking with PRRS again?
1 year without PRRS?
3 years without PRRS?
5 years without PRRS?

16. Results continued
Before and after filtration
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
Breeding herds
13
12 Pre-filtration
11 Postfiltration
10
New PRRSV infection
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Time pre and post air filtration (months)

17. Questions?
Bryan Myers DVM
Pipestone Veterinary Clinic of Iowa
bmyers@pipevet.com