Author
Lager, Kelly | |
BUTLER, J - UNIVERSITY OF IOWA |
Submitted to: International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS)
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2002 Publication Date: 6/4/2002 Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is the number one infectious disease problem for U.S. swine. It is caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV) which is capable of causing in utero infections. This study tested the probability that fetuses infected during midgestation could develop a state of immunotolerance against PRRSV. Gilts underwent surgery at about 50 days of gestation and all fetuses in one uterine horn received an intraamniotic injection of either NADC-8 wild-type parent virus (n=6 litters) or NADC-8 attenuated virus (n=8 gilts). A pair of gilts from each group was euthanized at 3, 6, and 9 weeks-post-inoculation (wpi) and the 4th pair of gilts in the attenuated virus group was allowed to farrow. Sera from the fetuses/pigs were tested for PRRSV and specific antibody. In the wild-type group all principal fetuses and all but 1 of the control fetuses were either dead or infected with wild-type PRRSV. There was a marked contrast in litters inoculated with attenuated-PRRSV. Only 3 of the 6 litters necropsied and only 1 of the litters allowed to farrow contained any infected fetuses/pigs. These fetuses and pigs were normal in appearance and most of the older infected fetuses and some of the congenitally-infected pigs had PRRSV-specific antibody. This study suggests that the likelihood of porcine fetuses developing a PRRSV immunotolerant state would be remote because virulent virus will usually kill the fetus and if the virus would be less virulent, then the fetus would seroconvert in utero or postpartum. |