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From the zoonotic risk to the economic losses: a serosurvey of ten pathogens in pig farms in the Campania region
1  Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, 98168, Italy
Academic Editor: Jalil Ghassemi Nejad

Abstract:

Infectious diseases are a major problem for all livestock farming, including swine. They are responsible for numerous economic losses and, in the case of zoonotic diseases, also for public health problems. In this study, the seroprevalence of 10 common swine pathogens was evaluated, evaluating any risk factors related to increased exposure risks. A total of 420 blood samples were collected in the Campania region, southern Italy, and tested with specific commercial ELISAs. The highest seroprevalences were found for hepatitis E virus (HEV, 41.4%), porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV, 16.7%), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV, 14.8%). Lower prevalences were found for transmissible gastroenteritis (TGEV, 5.5%), porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV, 0.9%), Mycobacterium avium paratubercolosis (MAP, 3.5%), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV, 3%), Schmallenberg virus (SBV, 5.3%), and Coxiella burnetii (4.1%). No animal had antibodies against Brucella suis. Furthermore, statistical tests correlated sex, age, and type of farm with higher exposure to HEV, SBV, PEDV, and TGEV. Therefore, in the study area, exposure to pathogens causing damage to the swine industry economy, such as PRRSV and PEDV, as well as to those with zoonotic potential, such as Coxiella and HEV, was frequent. The results of this study underline the importance of continuous surveillance in swine farming in order to understand the main circulating pathogens, risk factors, and measures to be taken.

Keywords: pigs; serosurvey; seroprevalence; virus; bacteria

 
 
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