Farm staff wrong movements affects PRRSv prevalence and viremia

Abstract Background Biosecurity is known as the implementation of measures to reduce the risk of introduction (external biosecurity) and spread (internal biosecurity) of disease agents. One of the most common diseases in the porcine industry is the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which has a huge negative impact on the well-being of the animals and consequently, on their productivity. Nonetheless, most of the biosecurity evaluation tools are based on scored systems. A new digital biosecurity system was designed to help control PRRS virus (PRRSv) infection status throughout an objective tool for the evaluation of internal biosecurity based on a system of control of the flow of internal movement of personnel in commercial farms. Movements, routes and health data were combined to classify the staff movements into three categories including “Risky” (From PCR(+) to PCR(-) barns), “Unsafe” (between PCR(+) barns) and “Safe” (From PCR(-)). Therefore, the main aims of the present work were to evaluate the efficacy of this new tool, its relationship with PRRSv incidence as well as to demonstrate the importance of biosecurity education to help farm workers to adopt safer daily practices. Results The observed results showed an overall smaller number of monthly movements (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in the Safe movements percentage (p < 0.05), concomitant with a decrease in the Risky movements percentage (p < 0.05) after the training session. In regards the relationship between staff movements and PRRSv presence, neither the percentage nor the total amount of both Safe and Unsafe movements were significantly different between the PCR(+) and PCR(-) groups of PRRSv status (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, both the total number and the percentage of Risky movements were significantly lower in the PCR(-) group (p < 0.05) compared with PCR(+) group. These results show a clear relationship between the total amount of Risky movements and the probability of a PRRSv outbreak in the farms. Conclusions Our results support the notion that staff movement patterns within the different farm areas are a major factor in its internal biosecurity. The new tool described in the current work showed a significant relationship between staff movements and the probability of PRRSv outbreak and demonstrate the importance of biosecurity training to help farm workers adopt safer daily practices.