Phylodynamic and phylogeographic reconstruction of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in Europe: Patterns and determinants

• DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14556
• Publication Date: 2022-04-11T06:40:31Z
• Authors: Giovanni Franzo; Giulia Faustini; Matteo Legnardi; Mattia Cecchinato; Michele Drigo; Claudia Maria Tuc...
• Keywords: Basic reproduction number

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is among the most devastating diseases affecting pig industry. Despite vaccines having been available for decades, remarkable genetic variability of this virus, leading to poor cross-protection, has limited their efficacy, other measures must be adopted effectively control viral circulation. Some recent studies have investigated factors involved in spreading persistence, at least local level. However, despite topic's relevance, no statistically grounded evidence currently evaluating variables more porcine virus (PRRSV) epidemiological success a broader scale, such as European scale. In present study, an extensive phylodynamic phylogeographic analysis was performed on than 1000 ORF5 sequences investigate history, dynamics patterns PRRSV within borders. Moreover, several potential predictors, representative swine population features trade, human population, economy geographic characteristics, were evaluated through specifically designed generalized linear model (GLM) assess weight migration rate between countries over time. Although stock density, mean strain diversity, investments agriculture (including likely role vaccination) farmer education certain extent, major determinant proven by far live trade. Providing robust depiction molecular epidemiology determinants, study could contribute rational allocation resources based effective prioritization measures.