Modeling the live-pig trade network in Georgia: Implications for disease prevention and control.

ABSTRACT: Live pig trade patterns, drivers and characteristics, particularly in backyard predominant systems, remain largely unexplored despite their important contribution to the spread of infectious diseases in the swine industry. A better understanding of the pig trade dynamics can inform the implementation of risk-based and more cost-effective prevention and control programs for swine diseases. In this study, a semi-structured questionnaire elaborated by FAO and implemented to 487 farmers was used to collect data regarding basic characteristics about pig demographics and live-pig trade among villages in the country of Georgia, where very scarce information is available. Social network analysis and exponential random graph models were used to better understand the structure, contact patterns and

SUBMITTER: Kukielka EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5466301 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature