The Swine Health Information Center funded a study to evaluate tongue fluids (TF) samples from stillborn pigs as an indicator of PRRS detection in liveborn littermates. Led by Drs. Isadora Machado and Daniel Linhares of Iowa State University, the study investigated TF as a risk-based sample type in commercial breeding herds to predict PRRSV detection in the litter. Litters with stillborn piglets and small litter size had a higher probability of being PRRSV positive. Moreover, TF from stillborn piglets were shown to be a reliable indicator of PRRSV status for their liveborn littermates, indicating that TF can be an effective risk-based approach for PRRSV detection.
Find the study industry summary for project #23-076 on this page.
A risk-based approach to animal selection for sampling enhances PRRSV detection by increasing the probability of selecting an animal harboring the pathogen while requiring a smaller sample size. Aggregated TF from dead animals has emerged as a promising risk-based approach. It has a similar PRRSV RNA positivity rate as serum, processing fluids, and family oral fluids. Its composition is complex, especially in stillborns, consisting of blood, saliva, respiratory mucus, amniotic fluid, meconium, and environmental contaminants, which may reflect the litter’s PRRSV status upon laboratory testing.
Objectives of the study described herein had a goal to further knowledge on the use of TF from stillborns in commercial sow herds for PRRSV detection. Objectives included evaluating 1) the incidence of stillborn piglets on the probability of PRRSV RNA detection within the litter, 2) the stillborn TF PCR-results as an indicator of PRRSV in liveborn piglets, and 3) the litter size as a risk factor for PRRSV
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