Re: Re: Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand

Authors: Morris RS, Neumann EJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 56, Issue 3, pp 149-150, Jun 2008
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Disease/defect, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Infectious disease, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Respiratory system, Risk assessment/factors, Syndrome, Viral
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract:

In the correspondence by BD O’Neil published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 56, 48, 2008, entitled, “Re: Analysis of the risk of introduction and spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus through importation of raw pigmeat into New Zealand”, the author listed several concerns; we would like to respond to the three specific points raised. First, there was concern that potential losses in viral infectivity that may occur during the storage and shipping of meat, and consumer handling were not included as explicit steps in the exposure model. O’Neil (2008) cited a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report that suggested normal carcass processing would be expected to reduce the level of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus by 102–104 (Anonymous 2005). This offers no benefit if the concentration of the virus remains above the infectious dose, and the EFSA report did not find that virus was reliably inactivated during processing and handling. It also drew attention to the fact that the infectious dose of PRRS virus was low, but had not been adequately determined…(continued)

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