Understanding the transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
virus (PRRSV) is important for developing methods to control and eliminate the virus.
In this study, 2 similar experiments were performed involving 10 sentinel pigs main-
tained for 42 d in close proximity to 190 pigs experimentally infected with a highly
pathogenic PRRSV isolate. All pigs were monitored for PRRSV infection by PCR and
serology. In the first experiment, virus transmission to sentinel pigs was detected within
21 d after infection of the source population of pigs. In the second experiment, a small
separation distance of 27 ft combined with simple biosecurity procedures was sufficient
to prevent the transmission of virus to sentinel pigs. Overall, the results indicate a low
risk associated with PRRSV spread by aerosols and reinforce the importance of maintaining good biosecurity procedures.
