Filtre Antimicrobien Noveko – Présentation technique et utilisation recommandée dans les bâtiments de ferme

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on August 23, 2012 | No Comments

Le système de filtration antimicrobien Noveko est constitué de fibres de polypropylène spécialement traitées. Une solution brevetée d’agents antimicrobiens est intégrée à la fibre lors de sa fabrication. Par ce procédé, les agents antimicrobiens sont très fortement liés à la structure de la fibre et distribués uniformément à l’intérieur de la fibre.

Procédé de filtration
Le filtre Noveko utilise quatre principes d’action afin de bloquer et d’aseptiser les particules contenues dans l’air traversant le filtre.

Tamisage
Le principe de tamisage consiste à retenir les plus gros morceaux. Les particules d’un diamètre supérieur à l’espace entre deux fibres sont bloquées. La particule est arrêtée et reste emprisonnée dans le filtre.

Inertie
Nous parlons d’inertie lorsqu’une particule relativement grosse, ayant une masse plus importante que les autres particules, est
retirée du courant d’air circulant à travers le filtre, en restant collée à fibre, car elle…

Filtration pour une meilleure qualitè de l`air

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Préparer l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois

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Au cours des dernières années, la globalisation des marchés a fait ressortir de manière criante le besoin de conserver des standards élevés afin d’assurer le maintien de la santé des animaux de consommation ainsi que celle de la population. L’existence de maladies animales endémiques causant des pertes économiques importantes et la menace de nouvelles maladies en émergence, la biosécurité à la ferme, le respect de l’environnement, les zoonoses et la santé publique, l’antibiorésistance, la salubrité alimentaire et le bien-être animal font maintenant partie de la réalité de l’agroalimentaire québécois. La Faculté de médecine vétérinaire (FMV) de l’Université de Montréal est un joueur clé en agriculture et agroalimentaire puisqu’elle est la seule institution québécoise à offrir un programme de formation en médecine vétérinaire ainsi que des programmes de deuxième et troisième cycle conduisant à la formation de spécialistes et de chercheurs en santé animale. La présence à la Faculté de chaires de recherche du Canada, de chaires de recherche industrielles, d’une dizaine de groupes de recherche, d’un regroupement stratégique du FQRNT en infectiologie porcine et d’un réseau canadien de recherche du CRSNG sur la mammite bovine témoigne du dynamisme et du leadership de l’institution en recherche. La Faculté offre également de nombreux services importants au secteur agricole via son Centre hospitalier universitaire vétérinaire (CHUV) et son Service de diagnostic. Afin de répondre aux grands enjeux identifiés dans ce mémoire et ainsi contribuer à l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois, la FMV propose les quatre recommandations suivantes : 1) Soutenir le maintien de l’agrément complet par l’AVMA de la seule faculté de médecine vétérinaire au Québec afin de conserver la réputation de la formation vétérinaire universitaire québécoise et ainsi la réputation internationale du statut sanitaire du cheptel québécois; 2) Développer une approche concertée permettant d’assurer la formation d’un nombre suffisant de vétérinaires généralistes et spécialistes afin de combler et d’anticiper les besoins d’expertise en prévention, diagnostic et traitement des maladies animales, en salubrité alimentaire et en santé publique; 3) Investir de façon substantielle en recherche et dans la formation de chercheurs en santé animale afin que le secteur agroalimentaire québécois puisse innover en bénéficiant des percées technologiques et soit en mesure de répondre promptement et efficacement aux problématiques émergentes; 4) Appuyer le Centre hospitalier universitaire vétérinaire et le Service de diagnostic de la FMV pour qu’ils puissent réaliser leurs missions de service à la collectivité et de formation de spécialistes pour le secteur agroalimentaire.

Evaluation of airborne shedding of modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from growing pigs

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The PRRS virus is known to cost the US  pork industry$1.8 million per day. Although it has been eliminated from breeding herds by implementing herd closure-homogenization protocols, the pigs who come from these sows are susceptible to wild type PRRS. These pigs are vaccinated with PRRS modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine since they are put in grow finish facilities with other pigs who put them at risk of wild type PRRSv. This vaccination has been proven to be effective in limiting the spread of wild type PRRSv but there is speculation that the PRRS MLV positive pigs are infecting the negative population of pigs with PRRS MLV when they are mixed. This study attempts to evaluate airborne shedding of PRRS MLV vaccine and to assess the ability of a basic bio-security protocol to prevent PRRS MLV from being transmitted from vaccinated to non-vaccinated growing pigs raised in the same facility. 3367 pigs were put into a wean-finish facility and split into two rooms, one room was injected with PRRS MLV and the other was the control (not infected). The rooms had different air systems and stringent bio-security measures were taken when entering different rooms. Serum samples of test pigs were taken regularly as well as air samples. In the room that was infected with PRRS MLV samples showed high levels of ELISA-positive pigs, high Serum PCR positive pools, and high oral-uid PCR positive samples. PRRSv RNA was detected in air samples at all 3 sample collection distances in at least one of the 29 days sampled. In the control barn, there was no PRRS virus RNA detected in serum or oral-fluid samples in the pigs. Non-vaccinated pigs also remained ELISA-negative through the entire study, this can be attributed to bio-security protocols that were implemented and low levels of air transmission.

Detection of airborne swine influenza A under field conditions

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on June 12, 2012 | No Comments

Influenza A is a virus that can be transmitted through the air from infected pigs and by pigs rubbing their noses together. Although there have been cases where outbreaks have been documented without any new pigs being introduced, implying that the disease has alternate routes of infection. Studies have found a relation between effected farms in a dense area. The objective of this study is to find out if aerosol transfer of influenza A was possible by testing aerosol from highly infected farms. The study was done in two parts, part one consisted of taking air samples at the hog farm that was infected, and the second phase was done taking samples at varying distances down wind from the farm. In phase one 15 air samples were taken for 30 minutes each. For phase two samples were taken in from the exhaust from the barns, and half a mile and a mile down the road for a total of sixty samples. During the first visit all of the air samples tested positive, the second visit found 6 of 15 samples from inside the barn tested positive while 2 of 15 samples from outside the barn tested positive. This research shows that it is possible for infected farms to spread influenza A throughout the air and that the aerosol spreading of the disease may be the route of infection for barns that never came into contact with outside pigs.

Achieving “Sustainable PRRSV Freedom” In Swine-Dense Regions: The Role of Air Filtration

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on May 30, 2012 | No Comments

The use of air filtration to prevent PRRSv contamination has been supported by a pilot study, but this trial looked at a larger scale trial. Ten treatment herds with either a MERV 16 or MERV 14 filter,  and 30 control herds with no filter were assessed monthly for 36 months. 28 out of the 30 control herds and 3 out of the 10 treatment herds were infected with PRRSv during the trial. Of the three treatment herds one used MERV 14 and two MERV 16 filters. The source of contamination for the three facilities was thought to be a contaminated transport truck, multiple biosecurity breaches, and an improperly installed fan protection. The results still show air filtration significantly reduced the risk of PRRSv infection in a herd.

Use of buffered Swiffer cloth for collection of PRRSv from the snout and face of growing pigs

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on January 27, 2012 | No Comments

It can be difficult and expensive to collect serum samples from pigs while they are still alive. Although these samples are crucial for testing if pigs have been infected with the PRRS virus. Researchers have tried using a Swiffer cloth to collect samples and have had relative success. This has potential to be a cheap alternative to rope which is currently used. Pigs who were PRRS negative were split into herds of 1000 pigs in  an all-in all-out system. The pigs were regularly wiped on the nostril and mouth with a swiffer pad dampened by phosphate buffered saline. Results of the study showed that PRRS can be collected from the snout and mouth of pigs. Using the swiffer pad made collecting samples easy and accurate. It is also a cheap alternative to rope testing. Sometimes pigs choose not to chew on the rope making sample taking inconsistent.

Evaluation of damaged filters as a risk factor for the penetration of aerosolized porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on August 30, 2010 | No Comments

The virus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has recently been proven to be transmitted by aerosols. The reaction of the industry to this problem was to increase biosecurity protocols by placing high efficiency filters that are fine enough to stop particles that carry the virus from entering the barn. This was a successful strategy for preventing the spreading of PRRS, but there has been some concern about broken filters which are unable to prevent contaminated particles from entering a susceptible herd. In reaction to this concern a study was undertaken to evaluate how broken filters play a role in PRRS infections. A one meter tube was used with a fan on one end which had a solution of the PRRS virus sprayed into it. On the other end of the tube was an air collector used to receive samples. Filters with varying degrees of damage were put in the apparatus to test if they were still capable of stopping PRRS positive particles. The degrees of damage were: Mild (finger impressions), Moderate (lacerations), Severe (Deep finger impressions) and Rodent (holes). After each test the air was sampled in the recipient chamber. After repeating the tests 10 times for each level of damage the amount of PRRS positive air samples at each level was: 20% at mild, 40% at moderate, 100% at severe and 80% for the rodent filter. Also test were done on the mild and moderately damaged filter to find if varying intensities of the PRRS virus had implications on the damaged filters. It was found that the mild filter had negative samples at all degrees of PRRS intensity. While the moderate filter had 0% at the first level of severity and then 60% and 70% at the next two levels. Taking good care of filters during installation so not damage them and quick replacement of damaged filters can help prevent area spreading of the PRRS virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv): Update on Noveko’s Air Filtration System

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on August 29, 2010 | No Comments

This power point presentation reviews the research and development carried out with N0veko’s antimicrobial air filters. The presentation explains how Noveko’s antimicrobial filters work. Also discussed is engineering aspects with respect to the installation of air filtration systems in swine buildings. Costs are not discussed in this presentation but potentially in a future presentation.

An update of SDEC-related research efforts on the aerobiology and biosecurity of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Posted in: Air Filtration, Pork Insight Articles by admin on August 28, 2010 | No Comments

PRRS has been found to be transported by fomites such as boots and containers, but it was not believed to be transferred with aerosols. This was proven wrong by tests done by Cho et al as they were able to observe a PRRS virus that traveled one mile by aerosol. Although this was difficult for other researchers to achieve or even repeat by the original team. It was found that a modified version of the virus was able to attach to particles such as dust and water to travel long distances. Hog farms in France were able to apply positive air pressure along with high efficiency filters to limit the movement of PRRS, but this was found to not be practical in the US due to different air pressure systems and the costs would not makes sense economically. So researchers set out to find a cheap alternative to this method applicable to US hog operations. A model was set up to replicate a dense pig population involving 300 head of middle aged pigs. Three barns were involved in the study, one was inoculated with PRRS, one was naive and had a high quality filter, and one was naive and held in a poorly filtered barn. Over a year air and blood samples were taken and analyzed for PRRS. Results showed that there was no sign of PRRS in the well filtered barn, and while no pigs became infected in the poorly ventilated barn, 10% of the air samples taken had evidence of PRRS. No hog operation since the onset of PRRS has been able to consistently produce weaned pigs who are PRRS negative. Air filtration is potentially one step towards sustainable PRRS negative production.