Development and characterization of stable cell lines constitutively expressing the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nucleocapsid protein

Despite global efforts to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection, the virus continues to cause economic problems in the swine industry worldwide. In this study, we attempted to generate and characterize a panel of stable BHK cell lines that constitutively express the nucleocapsid (N) protein of type 1 or type 2 PRRSV. The established BHK cell lines were found to react well with N-specific antibodies as well as the hyperimmune serum of pigs raised against each genotype of PRRSV. Taken together, the data implicate a potential usefulness for the newly generated stable cell lines as a diagnostic reagent for PRRSV serology.

Seroprevalence of Antibody to Procine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Diagnostic Submissions

During the period from January to December of 2001, a total of 3,391 swine sera were submitted to our laboratory from 256 farms for the diagnosis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The antibody to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was tested by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. Of the 256 farms tested, 230 farms (89.8%) were positive for the PRRSV antibody. The overall seroprevalence of the PRRSV antibody was 52.1% (1765/3391). Most of the pigs seemed to be infected with PRRSV at around 50 to 60 days old. The seroprevalence of the antibody became higher with age, and peaked at around 100 days old. More than one-third of the adult pigs, including boars, gilts, and sows, was positive for the PRRSV antibody. The infection of PRRSV was chronic and confined to growers and/or finishers in most farms. However, the antibody was detected in all production phases at some farms.

Prevalence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvovirus from aborted fetuses and pigs with respiratory problems in Korea

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)0, porcine circovirus type 2(PCV-2) and porcine parvovirus (PPV)0 infections were investigated as possible causes of the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome(PMWS). Specific primers for RT-PCR and PCR were designed for the differential detection of PRRSV, PCV-2 and PPV. Using PCR, these viruses were detected in homogenized tissue samples from pigs that had respiratory of reproductive problems in the time period between 1998 and 2000; the overall prevalences were: PRRSV 31.4%, PCV-2 46.5%, and PPV 8.1%. PCV-2 was also detected in aborted fetal tissues.

Síndrome reprodutiva e respiratória dos suínos: uma breve revisäo / Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome: a brief review

A síndrome reprodutiva e respiratória dos suínos (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - PRRS) é uma doença relativamente nova dos suínos que foi detectada primeiramente em 1985 nos Estados Unidos, e em 1990 no continente Europeu. A síndrome é causada pelo PRRS vírus (PRRSV), o qual foi incluído em uma nova família de vírus, a Arteriviridae. A infecçäo pelo PRRSV causa problemas reprodutivos em fêmeas gestantes, o quais säo caracterizados por abortos no final da gestaçäo e/ou parto precoce, onde pode-se observar um elevado número de fetos mumificados e natimortos; leitöes que nascem infectados säo fracos e economicamente inviáveis. Os problemas respiratórios causados pela infecçäo pelo PRRSV podem se manifestar em suínos de todas as faixas etárias, e säo semelhantes a influenza. Embora PRRS tem sido detectada na maioria dos países em que a suinocultura tem importância econômica significativa, näo há informaçöes publicadas a respeito da doença ou do vírus no Brasil. No entanto, devido as perdas econômicas significativas que essa síndrome causou nos países já afetados, e da possibilidade do vírus ser eventualmente introduzido nos rebanhos brasileiros, é necessário reconhecer a doença imediatamente, e tomar as devidas medidas para o diagnóstico e controle em casos de surtos de problemas reprodutivos e respiratórios.