Concentration, Size Distribution, and Infectivity of Airborne Particles Carrying Swine Viruses

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alonso C ; Davies PR ; Raynor PC ; Torremorell M
• Description:
  When pathogens become airborne, they travel associated with particles of different size and composition. Particle size determines the distance across which pathogens can be transported, as well as the site of deposition and the survivability of the pathogen. Despite the importance of this information, the size distribution of particles bearing viruses emitted by infectious animals remains unknown. In this study we characterized the concentration and size distribution of inhalable particles that transport influenza A virus (IAV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) generated by acutely infected pigs and assessed virus viability for each particle size range. Aerosols from experimentally infected pigs were sampled for 24 days using an Andersen cascade impactor able to separate particles by size (ranging from 0.4 to 10 micrometer (µm) in diameter). Air samples collected for the first 9, 20 and the last 3 days of the study were analyzed for IAV, PRRSV and PEDV, respectively, using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantified as geometric mean copies/m3 within each size range. IAV was detected in all particle size ranges in quantities ranging from 5.5x102 (in particles ranging from 1.1 to 2.1µm) to 4.3x105 RNA copies/m3 in the largest particles (9.0-10.0µm). PRRSV was detected in all size ranges except particles between 0.7 and 2.1µm in quantities ranging from 6x102 (0.4-0.7 µm) to 5.1x104 RNA copies/m3 (9.0-10.0µm). PEDV, an enteric virus, was detected in all particle sizes and in higher quantities than IAV and PRRSV (p < 0.0001) ranging from 1.3x106 (0.4-0.7µm) to 3.5x108 RNA copies/m3 (9.0-10.0µm). Infectious status was demonstrated for the 3 viruses, and in the case of IAV and PRRSV, viruses were isolated from particles larger than 2.1µm. In summary, our results indicated that airborne PEDV, IAV and PRRSV can be found in a wide range of particle sizes. However, virus viability is particle size dependent. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Communicable Diseases Influenza, Human Livestock Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Viral Diseases
• Keywords:
  Disease Transmission Infectious Diseases Influenza Livestock Industry Particle Size Pathogenicity Pathogens Ribonucleic Acids RNA Viral Diseases
• ISSN:
  1932-6203
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064111
• Citation:
  PLoS One 2015 Aug; 10(8):e0135675
• Contact Point Address:
  Montserrat Torremorell, Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
• Email:
  torr0033@umn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  PLoS One
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4a881af0a6e07909199e813a1ef9257c5a7a6e92a59992a399e3fa918412da01927c5fde7144f668e7f9151529d692b13015971475a1b6c994a5acce09f60a1a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222628/cdc_222628_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 903.60 KB ]