A method to provide improved dose–response estimates for airborne pathogens in animals: An example using porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 133; no. 3; pp. 297 - 302
• Main Authors: Hermann, J.R., Muñoz-Zanzi, C.A., Zimmerman, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 13.01.2009; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier; Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Aerosol; aerosols; Air Microbiology; airborne microorganisms; Airborne transmission; animal diseases; animal pathogens; Animals; bacterial infections; Biological and medical sciences; disease transmission; dosage; dose response; epidemiological studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; infection; Infectious dose; Inhalation Exposure; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; mycoses; pathogenesis; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - transmission; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - virology; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus; prediction; probability analysis; PRRS virus; risk assessment; Swine; validity; viral diseases of animals and humans; Virology; Infectious dose; Aerosol; Airborne transmission; PRRS virus; Microbiology; Arterivirus; Transmission; Method; Inhalation; Virus; Infection; Arteriviridae; Swine infertility respiratory syndrome virus; Veterinary; Nidovirales
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.07.002

This paper describes a method to provide improved probability estimates that exposure to a specific dose of an airborne infectious pathogen will result in animal infection. Individual animals were exposed to a specific dose of airborne pathogen. Following exposure, animals were individually housed and monitored for evidence of infection. The detection of specific antibodies and/or the pathogen in diagnostic specimens was evidence that the exposure dose resulted in infection. If replicated over a range of doses, the results can be used to derive a dose–response curve for a variety of animal species and infectious pathogens. This information is useful in estimating the likelihood of infection associated with exposure to airborne infectious microorganisms. Applications include predicting the risk of transmission associated with exposure to airborne pathogens, modeling the transmission of airborne pathogens, and determining requirements for effective exposure doses for vaccines delivered in aerosols.