Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.3
Journals
Veterinary Sciences
Special Issues
Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases
share announcement

Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 4036

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhendong Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225012, China
Interests: PRRSV pathogenicity mechanism; virus-host interaction mechanism; PRRSV susceptible/resistant gene mining
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Xiaowen Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng University, No. 1, Hunan Road, Liaocheng 252059, China
Interests: animal biosecurity and disease prevention and control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Swine diseases remain a major challenge for global pork production, causing significant economic losses and threatening animal health and welfare. This Special Issue will focus on the outbreak control and eradication strategies of important swine diseases under modern production systems. Contributions addressing innovative diagnostic approaches, biosecurity measures, vaccination strategies, herd management practices, and lessons learned from recent outbreaks are particularly welcome. By integrating clinical research, field experiences, and applied control measures, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive platform for advancing porcine health management and ensuring the sustainability of swine production worldwide.

Dr. Zhendong Zhang
Prof. Dr. Xiaowen Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • swine diseases
  • outbreak control
  • porcine health management
  • disease eradication

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 318 KB  
Article
Farmer and Consumer Responses to African Swine Fever Outbreaks: Implications for Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication
by Chi Ma and Wenfei Zhang
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(4), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13040394 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 353
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) remains a major challenge for global animal disease prevention and control. Public sentiment during ASF, along with farmer and consumer behavior, are underexplored factors in ASF control. This study examines how public sentiment influences farmers’ risk perceptions and consumers’ [...] Read more.
African swine fever (ASF) remains a major challenge for global animal disease prevention and control. Public sentiment during ASF, along with farmer and consumer behavior, are underexplored factors in ASF control. This study examines how public sentiment influences farmers’ risk perceptions and consumers’ behavioral responses, including consumption substitution intention and pork price expectations, and assesses the implications of these behaviors for disease control effectiveness. Using provincial panel data from China (June 2021–November 2022), sentiment analysis of 1.19 million Weibo posts, and a micro-level survey of 920 farmers, we combine panel regression, spatial econometric analysis, and micro-level behavioral evidence. Results show that public sentiment significantly elevates farmers’ risk perception, which may influence reporting decisions, marketing timing, and biosecurity investment, thereby increasing the complexity of surveillance and disease control. Sentiment intensifies substitution intentions and shapes pork price expectations, leading to reduced demand for formally marketed pork and potential shifts to lower-traceability or less-inspected channels. Spatial analysis indicates that the half-decay distance for amplifying ASF risk via sentiment is about 1300 km, providing parameters for cross-jurisdictional coordination. These findings support integrating socio-behavioral indicators into veterinary early warning systems and designing targeted disease risk communication under a broader One Health framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases)
13 pages, 2317 KB  
Article
Passengers as Pathways: Behavioral Evidence on Travelers’ Knowledge of African Swine Fever Introduction Through Pork Products
by Daniela Mandas, Giulia Murgia, Katia Usai, Riccardo Bazzardi, Gaia Muroni, Stefano Cappai, Annamaria Coccollone and Federica Loi
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13020194 - 17 Feb 2026
Viewed by 795
Abstract
Increased international trade and tourist flows are key factors in the introduction of transboundary animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF). Despite the availability of sufficiently detailed data on legal commercial trade, the movement of pork products intended for personal consumption is [...] Read more.
Increased international trade and tourist flows are key factors in the introduction of transboundary animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF). Despite the availability of sufficiently detailed data on legal commercial trade, the movement of pork products intended for personal consumption is insufficiently reported and difficult to track when carried in passenger luggage, and may act as an introduction pathway. In this study, we analyze the risk of ASF reintroduction in Sardinia, an island that has recently achieved disease-free status after a long epidemic. An anonymous questionnaire on travelers’ awareness of ASF and their food transportation habits was administered at the main Sardinian airports between July and December 2025, and a total of 6525 responses were received. The results show a low level of knowledge regarding ASF, with approximately 95% of respondents stating they were unaware of the disease, while almost 10% of travelers reported having transported meat or other pork products, often originating from countries where the virus is circulating. Our investigation highlights how passenger flows, especially during the seasonal peak, could act as a vector for potential disease reintroduction through the transport of pork products. The results stress that the adoption of behavioral survey tools is essential to supplement traditional surveillance systems, highlighting the need to improve targeted communication strategies at both ports and airports in order to reduce the risk of virus reintroduction and protect regional livestock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1314 KB  
Article
Early Detection of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Outbreak: Combination of Methods
by Cunshuai Gao, Yunzhou Wang, Mengmeng Liu, Haotian Yang, Wenjing Jiao, Xuanpan Ding, Yuan Zhao and Honggang Fan
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(12), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12121198 - 15 Dec 2025
Viewed by 714
Abstract
The current application of the production data exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) model can detect PRRSV outbreaks earlier than that of processing fluid (PF) testing; however, its advantages have not been fully reported. This study aimed to analyze various production parameters, including abortion, [...] Read more.
The current application of the production data exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) model can detect PRRSV outbreaks earlier than that of processing fluid (PF) testing; however, its advantages have not been fully reported. This study aimed to analyze various production parameters, including abortion, off-feed, low appetite, and dead sows, on a daily basis following a PRRSV outbreak in an II-vx sow farm. The EWMA method was employed and the results were compared with the early detection of positive PF results. Differences in daily abnormal indicators across the three PRRSV status periods were analyzed. Additionally, this study evaluated the PRRSV detection rates in different sample types (AF, OS, and TBS) from aborted sows and compared the detection rates of different sample combinations using statistical tests. The 187-day study revealed that the first true positive (TP) alarm point for daily abortion sows occurred on day 107 and for off-feed sows on day 110. In contrast, the first RT-qPCR-positive result for PF was obtained on Day 122. The average values of daily abortions and off-feed sows in status I-A were significantly higher than those in status II-vx and I-B. Conversely, the average value of low appetite in status I-A was significantly lower than that in statuses II-vx and I-B. No significant differences were observed in the daily number of dead sows among the three groups. The RT-PCR detection rates varied significantly (p < 0.01) among the different sample types (AF, 43.04%; TBS, 65.82%; and OS, 74.68%), with amniotic fluid (AF) showing the lowest detection rate. Combining AF and oropharyngeal swabs (OS) samples yielded a higher detection rate than combining AF and TBS samples. Using the EWMA to monitor the daily number of aborted sows was effective for the early detection of PRRSV outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 2461 KB  
Article
Combining Load–Close–Homogenize with Testing, Removal, and Rollover Strategies to Repopulate PRRSV Elimination Breeding Herds Using PRRSV-Positive Weaned Gilts
by Yulong Hu, Kangning Zhao, Guangqiang Wu, Haozhou Hong, Tian Xia, Zhicheng Liu, Yijuan Wang, Chunqing Sun, Chaosi Li, Zhendong Zhang and Jianfeng Zhang
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(10), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12101012 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1535
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining load–close–homogenize (LCH), test and removal (T&R), and rollover strategies for PRRSV elimination in breeding herds using PRRSV-positive weaned gilts. Here, a novel strategy was explored for PRRSV elimination from more than 1500 weaned gilts, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining load–close–homogenize (LCH), test and removal (T&R), and rollover strategies for PRRSV elimination in breeding herds using PRRSV-positive weaned gilts. Here, a novel strategy was explored for PRRSV elimination from more than 1500 weaned gilts, and we documented the process from PRRSV natural infection to elimination at the herd level. With LCH implementation, the herd achieved PRRSV-positive stability within 8 months. Consequently, by rolling in self-breeding PRRSV-naive gilts to replace PRRSV-positive weaned sows batch by batch, the time from being positive stable to negative was 13 months. A PRRSV-positive farm intending to retain its genes in its repopulate farrow to become a finished breeding farm can initiate PRRSV elimination from its weaned gilts; this will result in the first farrowing batch of piglets aged 8–10 weeks becoming PRRSV-negative after 8 months of herd closure. This approach offers a viable pathway for genetic retention and PRRSV elimination in breeding farms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication of Swine Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop