Epidemiology of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS): an overview

PRRS disease was first recognised in the USA in 1987 and in Europe in 1990 and since then the disease has spread widely throughout many pig-producing countries. After a severe epidemic phase, the infection has become endemic. The prevalence of infection is generally high in infected countries. However, in areas with a low density of pigs, infection may spread slowly and if infected animal movements are not significant, farm-to-farm spread can be controlled and prevalence of infection maintained at a low level. The PRRS virus (PRRSV) was completely unknown before 1986, and the question of its origin remains unanswered. The exact epidemiologic relationship between American and European strains of PRRSV is difficult to establish because different isolates appear to belong to two distinct sub-populations which are only distantly antigenically related. In the environment, virus survival is optimal when temperature is cold and when ultra-violet light exposure is low (little sunshine). These conditions are easily attained in winter and that may explain why virus spread increases during this period. Pigs of any age (including wild boars) are the only animals known to be naturally infected with PRRSV. Relatively close contact between pigs is the primary factor in virus transmission. Aerial transmission is a second mechanism of spread, particularly in winter and particularly over distances of less than 3 km. A third route of transmission is via semen. The role of fomites is not clearly documented, however since the virus is excreted in faeces and urine, slurry should be considered as a potential source of contamination. Within herds, the virus spreads rapidly with up to 85 to 95% of pigs in a herd becoming sero-positive within two to three months. Thereafter, virus activity persists for extended periods (several month to years). Nevertheless, some authors have reported spontaneous elimination of PRRSV from infected farms. For the future, there remain questions concerning the possible evolution of the disease (in terms of its sanitary and economic impacts), and the possible influence of vaccines on the epidemiological features of PRRS.