What is it about?

Network analysis is important to know the relations between animal disease interactions. Our paper explains the implications of the movements of pigs. We have shown for the first time the static and spacial properties of the Ecuadorian network where more than half of the movements originated or were destined to markets (55%). Backyard producers made up 89% of the network premises, and the top 2% of parishes (highest degree) contributed to 50% of the movements. Centrality measures were calculated and identified 5 trading communities demonstrating that the network contributed to the transmission of classical swine fever.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show the characteristics of the movements of pigs, which are quite important because of the application in the surveillance system to improve its procedures and update the disease control and management policy. To improve the mechanism of diseases surveillance, we hope targeted or risk-based surveillance could be implemented based on the results.

Perspectives

This article can help the understanding of pigs diseases in Ecuador from the point of view of interrelations of movements and disease transmission. Movements are compulsory tracked and their applications are huge, many strategies derived from the analysis could serve the governmental objectives and improve the individual producer activities. We wrote this article with great pleasure and hope to collaborate with similar research groups.

Alfredo Acosta
Swedish Veterinary Agency

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Network analysis of pig movements in Ecuador: Strengthening surveillance of classical swine fever, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, July 2022, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14640.
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