Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring

IntroductionA risk-based approach to animal selection for sampling enhances pathogen detection by increasing the probability of selecting an animal harboring the pathogen while requiring a smaller sample size. Postmortem tongue fluids (TF) have emerged as a promising risk-based approach, with a PRRS...

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Main Authors: Isadora F. Machado, Peng Li, Jinnan Xiao, Thomas Petznick, Ana Paula P. Silva, Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke, Lucina Galina Pantoja, Phillip Gauger, Giovani Trevisan, Gustavo S. Silva, Daniel C. L. Linhares
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1600064/full
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author Isadora F. Machado
Peng Li
Jinnan Xiao
Thomas Petznick
Ana Paula P. Silva
Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke
Lucina Galina Pantoja
Phillip Gauger
Giovani Trevisan
Gustavo S. Silva
Daniel C. L. Linhares
author_facet Isadora F. Machado
Peng Li
Jinnan Xiao
Thomas Petznick
Ana Paula P. Silva
Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke
Lucina Galina Pantoja
Phillip Gauger
Giovani Trevisan
Gustavo S. Silva
Daniel C. L. Linhares
author_sort Isadora F. Machado
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionA risk-based approach to animal selection for sampling enhances pathogen detection by increasing the probability of selecting an animal harboring the pathogen while requiring a smaller sample size. Postmortem tongue fluids (TF) have emerged as a promising risk-based approach, with a PRRSV RNA positivity rate similar to serum, processing fluids, and family oral fluids. Thus, this study assessed the effect of stillborn presence, litter size, and PRRSV RNA detection by RT-qPCR in stillborn TF on the probability of having viremic piglets within the litter.MethodsSamples from 130 litters were collected within 12 hours after farrowing from two breeding herds. TF and intracardiac blood were collected from stillborns, and tail blood swabs were collected from liveborn littermates within the selected litters. Samples were individually tested for PRRSV RNA detection by RT-qPCR. Litters with ≤ 11 liveborn piglets were defined as small. Generalized linear regression models were used to evaluate the litter size, presence of stillborns, and stillborn PRRSV results on the probability that a litter or at least one liveborn littermate would test PRRSV-positive.ResultsThe live piglets’ mean positivity within the litter was 5.0%, while the total born was 4.6%. Litters with at least one stillborn had 12.5 times higher odds of having a PRRSV-positive result, and 4.8 times higher odds of having at least one viremic liveborn piglet. In small litters, the odds of having a PRRSV-positive result increased 12.2 times, whereas the odds of having a viremic liveborn littermate increased 10.8 times. When the stillborn TF was positive, the odds of having a viremic liveborn littermate increased 17.6 times.DiscussionIn conclusion, stillborn TFs were a reliable indicator of PRRSV status among litters. Liveborn piglets from litters with PRRSV-positive stillborn TF or small litters had greater odds of testing PRRSV-positive. Therefore, stillborn TF collection and targeting small litters improve PRRSV detection and support farrowing room biocontainment strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-d84c2d7334d04b9f96de0ff88705c68e2025-08-20T03:47:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-05-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16000641600064Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoringIsadora F. Machado0Peng Li1Jinnan Xiao2Thomas Petznick3Ana Paula P. Silva4Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke5Lucina Galina Pantoja6Phillip Gauger7Giovani Trevisan8Gustavo S. Silva9Daniel C. L. Linhares10Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesGenus plc PIC, Hendersonville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United StatesIntroductionA risk-based approach to animal selection for sampling enhances pathogen detection by increasing the probability of selecting an animal harboring the pathogen while requiring a smaller sample size. Postmortem tongue fluids (TF) have emerged as a promising risk-based approach, with a PRRSV RNA positivity rate similar to serum, processing fluids, and family oral fluids. Thus, this study assessed the effect of stillborn presence, litter size, and PRRSV RNA detection by RT-qPCR in stillborn TF on the probability of having viremic piglets within the litter.MethodsSamples from 130 litters were collected within 12 hours after farrowing from two breeding herds. TF and intracardiac blood were collected from stillborns, and tail blood swabs were collected from liveborn littermates within the selected litters. Samples were individually tested for PRRSV RNA detection by RT-qPCR. Litters with ≤ 11 liveborn piglets were defined as small. Generalized linear regression models were used to evaluate the litter size, presence of stillborns, and stillborn PRRSV results on the probability that a litter or at least one liveborn littermate would test PRRSV-positive.ResultsThe live piglets’ mean positivity within the litter was 5.0%, while the total born was 4.6%. Litters with at least one stillborn had 12.5 times higher odds of having a PRRSV-positive result, and 4.8 times higher odds of having at least one viremic liveborn piglet. In small litters, the odds of having a PRRSV-positive result increased 12.2 times, whereas the odds of having a viremic liveborn littermate increased 10.8 times. When the stillborn TF was positive, the odds of having a viremic liveborn littermate increased 17.6 times.DiscussionIn conclusion, stillborn TFs were a reliable indicator of PRRSV status among litters. Liveborn piglets from litters with PRRSV-positive stillborn TF or small litters had greater odds of testing PRRSV-positive. Therefore, stillborn TF collection and targeting small litters improve PRRSV detection and support farrowing room biocontainment strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1600064/fulltongue fluidsrisk-basedPRRSVmonitoringtargeted samplingswine
spellingShingle Isadora F. Machado
Peng Li
Jinnan Xiao
Thomas Petznick
Ana Paula P. Silva
Onyekachukwu H. Osemeke
Lucina Galina Pantoja
Phillip Gauger
Giovani Trevisan
Gustavo S. Silva
Daniel C. L. Linhares
Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
tongue fluids
risk-based
PRRSV
monitoring
targeted sampling
swine
title Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
title_full Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
title_fullStr Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
title_short Evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of PRRSV detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk-based samples for PRRSV monitoring
title_sort evaluating stillborn and litter size as indicators of prrsv detection in live piglets and the use of stillborn tongue fluids as risk based samples for prrsv monitoring
topic tongue fluids
risk-based
PRRSV
monitoring
targeted sampling
swine
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1600064/full
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