Frecuencia del Síndrome Respiratorio Reproductivo Porcino (PRSS) en granjas porcinas comerciales de los cantones Balsas y Marcabelí

Abstract

Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease caused by an arterivirus that affects pigs of all ages worldwide, causing reproductive failure in sows and respiratory disease in piglets and fattening pigs, which, in addition to its high morbidity, makes it a challenge for the pig industry due to the economic losses it causes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PRRS in commercial pig farms in the cantons of Balsas and Marcabelí, in the province of El Oro, and to identify the associated risk factors. A total of 305 oral fluid samples from breeding pigs (sows and boars) belonging to 40 farms in both cantons were collected and analysed in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences using the IDEXX PRRS Oral Fluids Ab ELISA Kit (IDEXX Laboratories). The results were analysed using the InfoStat 2020 statistical programme, which yielded 250 positive samples (81.97%), of which 120 (81.63%) correspond to Balsas and 130 (82.28%) to Marcabelí. The identification of the risk factors associated with this disease was carried out by means of a survey among the producers of the participating farms, which revealed that the risk factors that influence the presentation of PRRS are: the reproductive service used, the type of production, biosecurity and the age of the animals, both at weaning, first birth or even the age at which the animals are discarded.