Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SWINOSTICS (Swine diseases field diagnostics toolbox)
Período documentado: 2020-05-01 hasta 2021-10-31
The project’s main outcome is the delivery of the SWINOSTICS device able to detect 6 diseases at the same time.It is easily transportable and its modular construction allows for future upgrades if necessary(more samples analysed parallelly).The heart of the device is the PIC biosensor that consists of eight ring resonators (RRs).The whole PIC is covered by a SiO2 layer (1000nm,width) to optimize the performance of the grating couplers and act as a protective layer.Regarding the SWINOSTICS device,a prototype was created, optimized and integrated.Small-scale manufacturing of the device and the sensors followed with the production of 4 devices and ~100 sensors used during the field trials.
To support the device, a cloud platform and a mobile app were developed.The platform collects data from all the devices at the 4 pilots.It provides simple and well-organized results visualization and allows downloading of the analysis results in raw format for analysis,validation and possible certification.The app is used as the device’s user interface and plays part in the secure transfer of data to the cloud platform.
SWINOSTICS fulfills the proposed ‘toolbox’vision with the delivered device able to minimize the time required by traditional methods of viral detections and also created a solution that can be used by almost anyone, not just trained personnel.The device is transportable and relatively inexpensive compared to traditional methods.
There are several lessons learnt from SWINOSTICS to consider in future work.First attention must be given on the manufacturing of the PICs due to their sensitive nature.Low performing PICs may significantly affect sensitivity and specificity values, essential for a detection device.They were seen as measurements for accurate detection however,sensitivity outperformed specificity.The viruses selected can cause serious illness,spread rapidly among swine populations, negatively affecting animal health and the economy.Hence,the objective for a device that can rapidly detect viruses is aligned with the notion that rapid and sensitive detection of these viruses can help prevent the spread of the diseases even by sacrificing specificity or having false positives.Moreover,the performance of the device based on sensitivity and specificity is already very good for a point of care device and can be further optimized.
The final version of the dissemination plan was prepared, website and social media accounts regularly updated.Two additional peer reviewed publications were published and event presentations took place.A final workshop was organized online,due to COVID-19 restrictions.An updated data management plan was delivered at project end showing the actual handling of data produced within the project lifetime, and how data was shared.Also,the SWINOSTICS community in Zenodo.org for openly sharing project data was updated.The business and exploitation plan was finalized during this period and a patentability analysis took place.Target markets and end users revealed urgent needs for a system like SWINOSTICS.
The main project results include a) the device,App and cloud software, b)the validation results, after testing the device both with laboratory(spiked) samples as well as with real samples from the field.SWINOSTICS delivered a mobile diagnostic device and complete system,providing reliable and simple diagnostic testing directly on site enabling rapid local decision making, crucial for prevention of disease spreading,animal & food safety and human health.It has a direct positive economic impact on swine farms & the agri-food sector and since it is a modular approach,could be used for monitoring other swine or other animals’ diseases through appropriate adaptation of the biosensors.
Swine industry operators have confirmed that the SWINOSTICS toolbox can constitute a valuable solution for animal health monitoring at farm level.Based on the results from research and the survey responses, the device can add value to the operations and also to the breeders’ management aspects of the sector.The SWINOSTICS device presented in the project is a prototype that would act as a baseline for future iterations.Future versions would reduce the size and weight of the device allowing easier and frequent use at farm level and deliver robust sensors that follow standardization protocols for production/calibration,significantly improving field operability and market acceptability.