Attempts to transmit porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by aerosols under controlled field conditions

An experimental infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was established in 150 five-month-old pigs housed in a fan-ventilated finishing facility, the infected barn. To determine whether air exhausted from the wall fans contained infectious PRRSV, a trailer, containing 10 four-week-old PRRSV-naive sentinel pigs was placed 10 m from the building from day 3 after the 150 pigs were infected until day 10. To connect the two airspaces, one end of an opaque plastic tube, 15 m in length and 5 cm in diameter, was fastened to the wall fan of the infected barn, and the other end was placed inside the trailer. Air from the building was exhausted into the trailer 24 hours a day for seven consecutive days and PRRSV infection was monitored in the infected pigs and the sentinel pigs. Air samples were collected from the infected barn and the trailer. PRRSV infection was detected in the infected pigs three and seven days after they were infected, but not in the sentinel pigs. All the air samples were negative for PRRSV by PCR, virus isolation and a pig bioassay.