Berger, Pia I.
Hermanns, Steffen
Kerner, Katharina
Schmelz, Friederike
Schüler, Verena
Ewers, Christa
Bauerfeind, Rolf
Doherr, Marcus G.
Funding for this research was provided by:
Freie Universität Berlin
Article History
Received: 18 August 2023
Accepted: 13 October 2023
First Online: 26 October 2023
Declarations
:
: At the time of the study implementation, Freie Universität Berlin did not have an Ethics Board with a mandate to approve non-invasive sampling as well as questionnaire-based collection of animal production data. The feasibility of the information to be collected was extensively discussed within the expert team of the institutions involved in the study design. Participation in the study was voluntary, and consent was given by the farm owners to use both the study samples and the data for the study. None of the questions was mandatory, and the data were anonymized for the statistical analysis and publication. Farm owners were not reimbursed but received the results of the laboratory tests obtained for their farm free of charge.
: Not applicable.
: Two of the authors (FS, VS) were employed by a commercial company (Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France). The same company supported the study financially. However, neither was authors´ employment dependent on the study nor did the company have any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or the conclusions formulated when drafting and revising the manuscript. The specific role of these authors is articulated in the ‘authors´ contributions’ section. The commercial affiliation of some of the authors does not alter our adherence to Porcine Health Management policies on sharing data and materials.