A countrywide survey of PRRS indicates widespread seroprevalence in India with age of the pig and zone as significant risk factors.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is an important emerging disease in India but not much is known about its prevalence and associated risk factors. The current study was conducted with the objective to estimate the PRRS sero-prevalence and identify the risk factors. A total of 6089 pig-serum samples from 27 states/union territories of India were screened for PRRS virus specific antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. The significant risk factors and predictors were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results of the study indicates the overall seroprevalence was 17.8%. Samples from all states except Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab and Sikkim were positive. The spatial analysis indicated pockets of high seroprevalence in Nagaland and Manipur states, bordering Myanmar. The age and zone emerged as significant (p < 0.0001) risk factors, where the odds of having PRRS seropositivity among pigs less than 12 months age was 1.465 (95%CI 1.268-1.694) and with OR of 2.097 (95% CI 1.819-2.421) the North East zone was significantly associated with PRRS seropositivity. This is the first study conducted on a national scale that provides insight into the widespread prevalence of PRRS in the country and identified the age and zones as significant variable that predicted the PRRS serological status. Findings from the study would help make policy decisions for controlling PRRS in India.