This is not quite an "applied" research, but it is good to know that such technologies are being evaluated and therefore available for "commercial" use soon:

A multiplex method for the simultaneous serological detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2.

Lin K, Wang C, Murtaugh MP, Ramamoorthy S.

Source

Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.

Abstract

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are major contributors to the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). Routine serological diagnosis and surveillance play an important role in the prevention of PRDC as it is a leading cause of economic losses to the swine industry. We herein describe an advanced microsphere-based immunoassay that permits the simultaneous detection of antibodies to PCV2 and PRRSV; thereby reducing the time and effort involved in testing. Recombinant PRRSV N protein antigen and the PCV2 capsid antigen were coupled to fluorophore dyed beads with distinct spectral addresses. Weekly sera samples from 72 pigs that were experimentally exposed to either PCV2, PRRSV or both PCV2 and PRRSV were used to validate the microbead assay (MBA) in comparison with the gold-standard ELISAs. The kinetics of the PCV2 and PRRSV-specific antibody responses as measured by the microbead assay was comparable to those of the standard assays; Spearman's Rank correlation was 0.72 (p<0.001) for PRRSV and 0.80 (p<0.001) for PCV2. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were determined using field sera whose positive or negative status was determined by the standard tests. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were both 98% for PCV2 and were 91% and 93% for PRRSV (Kappa coefficient: 0.85 and 0.67 for PCV2 and PRRSV respectively). Multiplexing did not interfere with assay performance or diagnostic sensitivity. Therefore, the described study demonstrates proof of concept for the development of more versatile and economical microbead array based multiplex serological test panels for veterinary use.

Reference:
Lin K, Wang C, Murtaugh M P, Ramamoorthy S. A multiplex method for the simultaneous serological detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2. Journal of clinical microbiology 2011 [accepted]

Clustering of and Risk Factors for the Porcine High Fever Disease in a Region of Vietnam

This paper is about risk factors associated with PHFD. It has been suggested that PRRSv might be associated with PHFD, so I included this paper in our blog. In fact, results of this study are in line with what has been reported for PRRSv in terms of risk factors associated with infection and clinical severity of the disease.
Enjoy:

ABSTRACT
Porcine high fever disease (PHFD) emerged in 2006 in China and spread to Vietnam. Little work has been carried out to investigate PHFD risk factors and space–time dynamics. To fill this gap, we investigated probable cases of PHFD at household level as the outcome. A study area, approximately 100 sq. km, was selected from a province of southern Vietnam that had reported the out- break of PHFD in 2008. A survey was conducted in the study area to collect information about swine health problems during 2008. The questionnaire included three sections: general information, clinical signs of disease in pigs and production factors believed to be risk factors. Cases were defined at the household level and included interpretation of clinical signs in series. Logistic regression with a random intercept at the hamlet level was used to assess risk factors for PHFD at the household level. Spatial clustering was investigated using the D-function and a Cuzick–Edward’s test. Spatial clusters were evalu- ated using a spatial relative risk surface and the spatial scan statistic using a Bernoulli model. Space–time clustering was explored using a space–time K-function and Knox’s test. Space–time clusters were evaluated using a space– time permutation model in SaTScan. Of 955 households with questionnaire data, 33.4% were classified as cases. The statistical significance of space and space–time clustering differed between methods employed. The risk factors associated with occurrence of cases were higher numbers of sows and finishing pigs (log 2 transformed), receiving pigs from an external source and the inter- action between using ‘water green crop’ (WGC) as pig feed and owning ducks with or without direct contact with pigs. The interaction between the presence of ducks and feeding WGC to pigs suggested the involvement of pathogens that might be present in water (environment) and could further replicate in or on ducks.

REFERENCE:
Le H, Poljak Z, Deardon R, Dewey C E. Clustering of and Risk Factors for the Porcine High Fever Disease in a Region of Vietnam. Transboundary and emerging diseases 2011; doi:10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01239.x.