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Title: UPDATE ON US NATIONAL PRRS PROJECT PLANS: THE USDA FUNDED PRRS CAP PROGRAM, THE NPB FUNDED PRRS HOST GENETIC CONSORTIUM, AND US NATIONAL SWINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE NC229 PROJECT

Author
item Lunney, Joan
item ROWLAND, RRR - KSU MANHATTAN,KS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There are several major US efforts to address swine respiratory diseases. These include the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded PRRS coordinated agricultural project (PRRS CAP), the US National Pork Board (NPB) funded PRRS Host Genetic Consortium (PHGC), and the US national Swine Respiratory Disease NC229 project plans. These are not stand alone efforts but incorporate the integration of activities within the PRRS community of researchers, practitioners, producers and educators. And all are open to participation by international research collaborators. This abstract will summarize key research areas supported by each effort. The USDA in 2008 awarded funding of $4.8 million for PRRS CAP; Dr. RRR Rowland at Kansas State University serves as the Project Director. The activities under PRRS CAP are divided into 5 objectives, which represent a comprehensive road map to PRRS control and elimination. The first three objectives focus on the prevention and control tools, and knowledge needed to support scientists, practitioners and producers. A fourth objective is devoted to Extension and will apply existing and new technologies in regional elimination demonstration projects. The fifth objective is devoted to education and outreach directed toward the internal community of scientists and veterinarians involved in research, and the external stakeholder producers, consumers, and the swine industry at large.The 5 PRRS CAP Objectives are: 1) Develop improved PRRSV Vaccines by understanding PRRS viral structure, effects on immunity, and mechanisms of heterologous protection; 2) Characterize ecologic and epidemiologic factors that will facilitate the control of PRRS; 3) Characterize host factors that contribute to disease resistance and susceptibility; 4) Develop innovative approaches to on-farm control and elimination of PRRSV and identify factors associated with success and barriers to progress; and 5) Develop programs for the education and outreach to scientists, producers and veterinarians. PRRS CAP funding opportunities are now open. As part of the collaborative and integrative nature of the PRRS CAP, it is expected that each funded research project will be multi-disciplinary and incorporate the coordinated activities of at least three institutions (entities). Every participant in a funded PRRS CAP project will be required to follow the guiding principles within PRRS CAP 2; including sharing of reagents, clones, proteins, viruses, antibodies, constructs, etc. The CAP project description, request for applications and forms can be downloaded at www.prrs.org. The deadline for receipt of research applications is August 20, 2008. It is recommended that interested applicants contact Bob Rowland, Project Director at prrs@vet.k-state.edu, browland@vet.k-state.edu, or 785/532-4631, prior to submitting an application for research funding.The US National Pork Board (NPB) funded the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium (PHGC) late in 2007. The PHGC is an effort to assess the role of genetics in determining pig resistance/susceptibility to PRRSV infection and related pathology and growth effects. The plan is to use a Nursery Pig Model to assess pig resistance/susceptibility to primary PRRSV infection. Groups of hundreds of piglets at ~28 days age will be infected with a well characterized PRRSV isolate. Pigs will be followed for 42 days after infection to determine whether and how quickly the PRRS virus is cleared and how the infection influences growth. Blood and other samples as well as weight data will be collected regularly for phenotypic data. Relevant tissue samples will be collected at kill. All samples will be barcoded and sent to appropriate testing labs where phenotypic data on viral levels and immune responses will be assessed. Data will be collated into a Central Consortium relational database that will be designed as part of the project.