Risk factors for infection of sow herds with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus

In 1992, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) of European type (PRRSV-EU) was introduced in Denmark. By 1996, the virus had spread to approximately 25% of the Danish herds. In January 1996, a modified-live vaccine based on the American type of the virus (PRRSV-US) was used in replacement boars for Danish artificial insemination (AI) centres and from July 1996, the vaccine was used in PRRSV-EU infected herds for prevention of disease. Soon after vaccine introduction, PRRSV non-infected herds experienced outbreaks of disease due to infection with PRRSV-US. In this study, we investigated the risk factors (biosecurity level, animals, exposure from PRRSV-US-infected neighbour herds, semen, herd size, pig density and herd density) for infection with PRRSV-US in a cohort of 1071 sow herds; we used a nested case-control study. The retrospective observation period lasted from June 1996 (when they all were non-infected) to October 1997. Seventy-three non-vaccinated, closed sow herds became infected with the vaccine strain during this period. Each case herd was matched with two control herds from the cohort (controls had not been infected at the time of infection in the case herds). The data were analysed using a Cox-regression model. The hazard of infection increased significantly with exposure from PRRSV-US-infected neighbouring herds, purchase of animals from herds incubating PRRSV-US infection, increasing herd size and purchase of semen from boars at PRRSV-US-infected AI centres. The results are consistent with the modified-live vaccine strain spread to other herds by trade with animals and semen and by neighbour (area) transmission. We suggest that virus spread by aerosols was a frequent mode of transmission.     

Oral transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by muscle of experimentally infected pigs

The current study was performed to determine if porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) could be transmitted to pigs by feeding muscle tissue obtained from recently infected pigs. Muscle obtained from pigs infected with either a European strain (EU donor pigs) or American strain (US donor pigs) of PRRSV was fed to PRRSV-free receiver pigs. The donor pigs were slaughtered 11 days post-infection (dpi). PRRSV was detected by conventional virus isolation in muscle at 11 dpi from 7 of 12 EU donor pigs and 5 of 12 US donor pigs. In contrast to conventional virus isolation, all muscle samples from infected pigs were positive for viral nucleic acid by PCR, except for muscle from one animal infected with the American strain of PRRSV. Five hundred grams of raw semimembranosus muscle from each of the donor pigs was fed over a 2 days period (250 g per day) to each of two receiver pigs (48 receiver pigs). The receiver pigs were housed separately in five groups. One of the five groups was fed muscle obtained from US donor pigs that was also spiked with the American strain of PRRSV. Sentinel pigs were placed in-contact with the group of receiver pigs fed spiked muscle. All receiver pigs became viraemic by 6 days post-feeding (dpf). There was evidence of horizontal transmission with sentinel pigs, in-contact with receiver pigs, becoming viraemic. The study demonstrates that PRRSV could be infectious through the oral route via the feeding of meat obtained from recently infected pigs.     

Monitoring porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection status in swine herds based on analysis of antibodies in meat juice samples

An indirect ELISA test was developed as a novel tool aimed at monitoring the herd infection status of swine herds. Meat juice samples from pig carcasses were analysed for the presence of antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). A study of samples from herds with known PRRS status was undertaken. The PRRS status of the herds was evaluated based on the analysis of blood samples by another serological test (blocking ELISA) capable of differentiating between infection with PRRSV of the American type and European type. The specificity of the indirect ELISA test on meat juice samples was 0.98. The sensitivity of the test depended on the type of the PRRSV strain involved. The apparent prevalence in herds infected with the American type of PRRSV was 0.44. The apparent prevalence in herds infected with the European type of PRRSV was 0.64. Herd level sampling and herd level criteria for assessing the PRRS status of herds by the new test were developed. Herds were classified as PRRS negative or PRRS seropositive based on 10 meat juice samples collected randomly at slaughter throughout a 3-month-period. Herd PRRS status classification by the indirect ELISA was validated in 47 herds by collection of blood samples from the herds. Eighteen herds were classified as PRRS negative by both test systems. Twenty-nine herds were classified as PRRS seropositive by both test systems. Acceptable herd classification was achieved using this test.     

Comparative evaluation of PRRS virus infection in vaccinated and naïve pigs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time-course of the immune response to a field Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome virus (PRRSV) strain in PRRS-naïve, untreated pigs, as well as in four groups of age and breed-matched pigs injected with a live attenuated PRRS vaccine, its adjuvant, an inactivated PRRS vaccine and an irrelevant, inactivated Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine, respectively. PRRSV infection was confirmed in all groups by PCR and antibody assays. The antibody response measured by ELISA took place earlier in pigs injected with the live attenuated vaccine, which also developed a much stronger serum-neutralizing antibody response to the vaccine strain. Yet, no clear protection was evidenced in terms of viremia against the field virus strain, which showed 11.1% nucleotide divergence in ORF7 from the vaccine strain. In vitro, the interferon (IFN)-γ response to PRRSV was almost absent on PVD 60 in all groups under study, whereas the prevalence of interleukin (IL)-10 responses to PRRSV was fairly high in PCV2-vaccinated animals, only. Results indicate that distinct patterns of immune response to a field PRRSV strain can be recognized in PRRS-vaccinated and naïve pigs, which probably underlies fundamental differences in the development and differentiation of PRRSV-specific immune effector cells.     

Blocking ELISA's for the distinction between antibodies against European and American strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

A double blocking ELISA was developed in order to satisfy the need for large scale serological screening for PRRS and simultaneous distinction between infection with European and American strains of PRRSV in pig herds. The Immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) and the double blocking ELISA enabled distinction on serological basis between infection with European and American strains of PRRSV. The distinction was possible from about day 7 after infection of pigs with PRRSV. The double blocking ELISA enabled the distinction at later stages of infection compared to the IPMA, irrespective of the strain involved.     

Sow performance in an endemically porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)-infected farm after sow vaccination with an attenuated PRRS vaccine

The objective of this field study was to evaluate in an endemically porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus-infected farm the reproductive performance of sows after their vaccination with a PRRS attenuated vaccine. In a farrow-to-finish pig farm with history of endemic PRRS virus infection, a total of 200 gilts and sows were used. They were divided in 2 groups of 100 animals. The first group was used as untreated controls, while the animals of the second group were vaccinated against PRRS virus using the attenuated Porcilis PRRS vaccine (Intervet International, The Netherlands) based on European strain. All health and reproductive parameters were recorded from the time of vaccination up to next weaning. No adverse systemic or local reactions or side effects relative to vaccination were noted. Compared to controls, vaccinated sows showed significantly improved farrowing rate (89% versus 78%) and a tendency for fewer returns to oestrus, particularly those at irregular intervals. Fewer sows farrowed prematurely and showed post-partum dysgalactia syndrome, but more live pigs were born and weaned in each litter after vaccination. It was concluded that vaccination of sows with Porcilis PRRS attenuated vaccine in farms with endemic PRRSV infection has beneficial effects on their health and fertility.     

Immunologic responses and reproductive outcomes following exposure to wild-type or attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in swine under field conditions

OBJECTIVE: To compare immunologic responses and reproductive outcomes in sows housed under field conditions following controlled exposure to a wild-type strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV strain WTV) or vaccination with a modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 30 PRRSV-na?ve 10-week-old female pigs. PROCEDURE: Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were monitored while pigs were held in isolation for 84 days after inoculation with the WTV strain (n = 10), inoculation with the WTV strain and 42 days later vaccination with a killed-virus vaccine (10), or vaccination with an MLV vaccine (10). Reproductive outcomes were measured after pigs were released into the farm herd. RESULTS: Inoculation with the WTV strain, regardless of whether a killed-virus vaccine was subsequently administered, elicited faster and more substantial production of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies, as well as a more rapid generation of interferon-gamma secreting cells, than did vaccination with the MLV vaccine. Despite the enhanced immune responses in pigs inoculated with the WTV strain, animals vaccinated with the MLV vaccine produced a mean of 2.45 more pigs than did sows exposed to the WTV strain, mainly because of a lower rate for failure to conceive. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that current assays of immunity to PRRSV correlate only imperfectly with degree of clinical protection and that the practice of controlled exposure of sows to a circulating PRRSV strain should be reconsidered in light of negative clinical outcomes.     

The reproductive performance of sows after PRRS vaccination depends on stage of gestation

In order to minimize the effects of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) on stillbirth, mummification, and neonatal mortality in swine herds, many producers have vaccinated their herds using a modified-live virus vaccine. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the PRRS modified-live vaccine and reproductive performance by stage of gestation when the vaccine was administered. A total of 47 swine herds from Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, and from the mid-western USA were included in the study. Participating farms had vaccinated all of their sows at one point in time when they used the vaccine for the first time. The reproductive performance of sows that farrowed in the year prior to use of the vaccine was compared to that of sows vaccinated in each of five stages of gestation and in the gestation that followed the initial use of the vaccine. Sows vaccinated at any time during gestation had a reduced number of pigs born alive, a reduced number of pigs weaned per litter, and increased number of stillborn pigs and an increased number of mummified pigs compared to the sows that farrowed prior to use of the vaccine. The largest association was seen in sows that were vaccinated in the last four weeks of gestation. The largest losses were observed in those herds that were vaccinated concurrently with the initial PRRS herd outbreak. These results suggest that the modified-live vaccine should only be administered to non-gestating sows.     

猪蓝耳病及其综合防控措施

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（PRRS）俗称猪蓝耳病,是由PRRS病毒（PRRSV）引起的传染病,分为欧洲型和北美型,是目前养猪业最重要的猪病之一。PRRS每年给美国养猪业造成的损失为6.64亿美元（约40亿人民币）,中国的养猪量数倍于美国,因此该病在中国造成的损失应该远大于美国。该病对母猪群的影响主要是降低分娩率,降低产仔数和窝均断奶仔猪数。我国的PRRS以北美型为主,感染后会引起母猪群的繁殖障碍,仔猪、生长育肥猪群的呼吸道问题。2006年我国暴发了由变异株PRRSV引起的高致病性PRRS,该病在全国范围内流行,重创了中国养猪业^[1]。2013年以后,类NADC-30毒株开始在国内逐渐扩散传播,各种重组毒株也不断出现,PRRS的防控变得更加复杂^[2-3]。PRRSV容易变异、毒株多样、感染时间长、防控难度较大。猪群感染PRRS后会造成免疫抑制,易出现各种混合感染和继发感染,这增加防控的难度。文章回顾了PRRS的临床症状、病理变化、病原特性、传播途径、诊断方法与防控措施。在PRRS的防控上,猪场需要良好的生物安全、科学的疫苗免疫与正确的药物方案。文章还探讨了在发生了PRRS感染的猪场,使用替米考星进行控制的效果。     

Efficacy of Fostera PRRS modified live virus vaccine against a Canadian heterologous virulent field strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Vaccination is a useful option to control infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and several modified live-PRRSV vaccines have been developed. These vaccines have shown some efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of clinical disease as well as the duration of viremia and virus shedding but have failed to provide sterilizing immunity. The efficacy of modified live-virus (MLV) vaccines is greater against a homologous strain compared with heterologous PRRSV strains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Fostera PRRS MLV vaccine in protecting against challenge with a heterologous field strain widely circulating in the swine herds of eastern Canada. Forty-six piglets were divided into 4 groups: nonvaccinated-nonchallenged; nonvaccinated-challenged; vaccinated-challenged; and vaccinated-nonchallenged. The animals were vaccinated at 23 d of age with Fostera PRRS and challenged 23 d later with a heterologous field strain of PRRSV (FMV12-1425619). Overall, the vaccine showed some beneficial effects in the challenged animals by reducing the severity of clinical signs and the viral load. A significant difference between nonvaccinated and vaccinated animals was detected for some parameters starting 11 to 13 d after challenge, which suggested that the cell-mediated immune response or other delayed responses could be more important than pre-existing PRRSV antibodies in vaccinated animals within the context of protection against heterologous strains.     

Similarity of European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strains to vaccine strain is not necessarily predictive of the degree of protective immunity conferred

The objective of this study was to determine the degree of protection conferred by a Lelystad-like modified live virus (MLV) vaccine against a heterologous wild-type porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate of the same cluster. For this purpose, fourteen 3-week-old piglets were divided into three groups: Group A pigs were vaccinated with a modified live virus vaccine, Group B pigs were used as positive controls, and Group C pigs as negative controls. Twenty-eight days after the last dose of vaccine, all pigs in Groups A and B were inoculated with the Spanish PRRSV strain 5710. To evaluate efficacy, clinical signs were recorded and the presence of challenge virus was determined by virus isolation in blood samples and nasal swabs collected at various time points post-challenge (p.c.) and in tissue samples collected at necropsy 24 days p.c. After challenge, moderate clinical signs were observed in pigs from Groups A and B. In addition, all vaccinated pigs were viremic at least once, although viremia tended to be more sporadic in this group than in Group B pigs. PRRSV was detected in at least one tissue sample from four out of five pigs from Group A and in all pigs from Group B. The results indicate that the protection conferred by the MLV vaccine used in this study against a closely related virulent strain was only partial. The findings suggest that the degree of genetic homology of ORF5 between MLV vaccine and challenge isolate is not a good predictor of vaccine efficacy.     

Persistence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in intensive farrow-to-finish pig herds.

An epidemiological study of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) within pig herds was conducted in 8 intensive farrow-to-finish pig farms. Persistence of PRRS virus (PRRSV) in pig herds was demonstrated by regular postmortem examination on 2 farms for a period of 2 y. Virus isolation and serum neutralization (SN) tests were performed on the sera collected from 9 groups of pigs (10 pigs/group) of various ages on 8 pig farms. Except for 1 farm, isolation rates of PRRSV reached the highest level of 70 to 100% of pigs 6 to 8 wk of age, which coincided with the lowest levels of maternal immunity. In 1 pig herd, sows (39 in total) with SN titers of < or = 1:2, 1:4-1:8, and > or = 1:16 were designated as groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Sera were obtained from their progeny (3 pigs randomly selected from each litter) at various ages from 0 to 22 weeks. A positive correlation (r = 0.377, P < 0.001) between the SN titers of sows and those of their progeny (1-week-old piglets) was observed. Pigs at the age of 6 wk, only 7.9% of group 1 pigs compared to 72.4% of group 3 pigs were seropositive. A significant difference (P < 0.01) in the percentage of pigs with PRRSV viremia among the 3 groups was observed, with the lowest level found in group 3 pigs. The isolation rates of PRRSV from serum reached the maximum at the age of 9 wk for all 3 groups. The results indicated that passively acquired serum antibodies conferred a protective effect for piglets; however, loss of passive immunity at various ages of pigs produced susceptible pigs that resulted in PRRSV persistence in the pig herds. Pigs 6 to 9 weeks old were the major reservoir for PRRSV in farrow-to-finish pig herds.     

Efficacy of vaccination with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus following challenges with field isolates in Japan

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influences of genetic and antigenic variations in field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on vaccine efficacy. Four-week-old pigs were vaccinated with a commercial modified live virus vaccine. Four weeks after vaccination, pigs in both the vaccinated group and the non-vaccinated group were challenged intranasally with 10(7) TCID(50) of PRRSV wt-11 (Experiment 1) or PRRSV wt-7 (Experiment 2). Based on genome sequencing of ORF5 and cross neutralization test results, PRRSV wt-11 is similar to the vaccine strain, whereas wt-7 is distinct from the vaccine strain. In the vaccinated challenged groups, clinical signs were less severe, the mean rate of weight gain was greater, and gross lung lesions were less severe when compared with the non-vaccinated challenged groups in both experiments. In Experiment 1, the virus was isolated from serum at 3 days post-challenge, and the mean virus titers in broncho-alveolar lavage fluids (BALF) and tissues were lower in pigs in the vaccinated challenged groups compared with those in the non-vaccinated challenged group. In Experiment 2, virus isolation from serum, BALF and tissues showed no significant differences between the groups. These results suggest that commercial PRRSV vaccine could be effective in reducing clinical disease following a challenge with field isolates of PRRSV. However, with regards to virological protection, the efficacy of the vaccine may be affected by the nature of the PRRSV isolates.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒感染的诊断及其分子特点

采用流行病学调查、临床症状观察、病理学检查、病毒分离、分离毒株测序以及遗传演化分析的方法,对北京及其周边地区4个猪场剖检的4头猪进行分析。结果:流行病学和临床症状表现为急性高热性传染病;病理学观察为非化脓性脑炎和间质性肺炎等多器官严重的病理变化;RT-PCR和病毒分离确定该疫情的主要病原是猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)。与典型PRRSV感染不同的是:成年猪感染率达50%以上,病死率达80%以上;PRRSV分离株全基因序列分析表明属于PRRSV北美洲型,特别是PRRSV NSP2不连续缺失30个氨基酸,说明此次流行的PRRSV毒株可能为高致病性毒株。     

Immune response of sows and their offspring to pseudorabies virus: serum neutralization response to vaccination and field virus challenge.

One month prior to breeding, sows were vaccinated with an attenuated pseudorabies virus vaccine or challenged with a field strain of pseudorabies virus. A third group of sows were not vaccinated or challenged before breeding. Pigs from these sows were vaccinated at 3, 6, or 12 weeks of age and challenged with virulent virus three weeks later. One pig from each litter served as an unvaccinated, unchallenged control. Serum neutralization titers of these pigs were monitored from birth until 22 weeks of age. Titers of the sows were monitored through breeding, gestation and farrowing. The maximum prefarrowing anti-pseudorabies virus titer in the field virus challenged sows occurred four weeks following challenge. A significant decline in titers occurred at farrowing. Titers rose from one week postfarrowing and then declined. Titers in the field virus infected sows were consistently two to threefold greater than those of the vaccinated sows. The maximum prefarrowing anti-pseudorabies virus titer in the vaccinated sows occurred six weeks following vaccination. The geometric mean titer in these sow's then decreased and increased for two weeks after farrowing. The results in the pigs can be summarized as follows: Pigs from control sows had a greater serological response following field virus challenge than following vaccination with a modified live virus. Pigs from control sows responded serologically to vaccination at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. Pigs from control sows which were challenged at 6, 9 and 15 weeks of age had similar antibody responses. Pigs from vaccinated sows had no increase in titer following vaccination at three and six weeks of age. Titers increased when these pigs were vaccinated at 12 weeks of age. There was no significant increase in mean titers of pigs from challenged sows following vaccination at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of age. Vaccinated pigs from control and vaccinated sows had a secondary response following challenge three weeks after vaccination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification and clinical assessment of suspected vaccine-related field strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the origin and clinical relevance of selected strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (PRRSV). ANIMALS: 38 pigs without antibodies for PRRSV. PROCEDURE: A seemingly uncommon restriction endonuclease digestion site in a commercially available vaccine strain of attenuated PRRSV was tested for its stability and prevalence under defined conditions. Selected field strains of PRRSV, with or without the restriction-site marker, were subsequently tested in pigs for virulence and for their ability to replicate competitively in pigs simultaneously given the vaccine. RESULTS: Under experimental conditions, the restriction-site marker was stable during long-term infection of pigs. It was not detected in any of the 25 field strains of PRRSV that were isolated before use of the vaccine or 21 of 25 field strains that were isolated after use of the vaccine but that, on the basis of previous testing, were believed unrelated to the vaccine strain. Conversely, it was detected in 24 of 25 field strains that were isolated after use of the vaccine and that, on the basis of previous testing, were believed to be direct-line descendants of the vaccine strain. Putative vaccine-related strains caused more pronounced pathologic changes than did the vaccine strain alone, and they predominated during replication in pigs also given the vaccine strain. CONCLUSIONS: In some swine herds, the vaccine strain may have persisted and mutated to a less attenuated form. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The potential for persistence and mutation of specific strains of virus should be an important consideration when designing vaccination programs involving attenuated PRRSV.     

Respiratory tract protection upon challenge of pigs vaccinated with attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccines

In this study, the efficacy of two attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines was assessed. The virological protection in the lungs of vaccinated pigs upon challenge was studied. Also, challenged pigs were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate clinical protection. Six-week-old pigs were immunized intramuscularly with commercial vaccines based on either an attenuated American or an attenuated European virus strain. Non-immunized pigs and pigs intramuscularly inoculated with the virulent Lelystad strain were included as controls. Six weeks after immunization, pigs were challenged either intratracheally or intranasally with the Lelystad strain, and 3 and 6 days later intratracheally exposed to Escherichia coli LPS. After LPS administration, pigs were monitored for clinical signs. At 4 and 7 days after challenge, pigs were euthanized to determine virus quantities in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and in lungs. Challenge virus was recovered from three out of eight pigs that had been primo-inoculated with the Lelystad strain with titers ranging between 0.3 and 3.1 log(10). Fifteen out of sixteen pigs vaccinated with the attenuated American strain were positive for challenge virus and their mean virus titers were similar to those of non-immunized challenge controls. Eleven out of 16 pigs vaccinated with the attenuated European strain were positive for challenge virus and their mean virus titers were 2.0-2.5 log(10) lower than those of non-immunized challenge controls. Thus, the virological protection in the lungs of vaccinated pigs upon challenge was incomplete, but was more pronounced in the homologous situation. Clinical signs upon LPS exposure in both vaccinated groups were not reproducible in two experiments.