ARS | Publication request: ISOLATION OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS FROM SELECTED TISSUES OF ADULT PIGS AT VARIOUS TIMES AFTER EXPERIMENTAL EXPOSURE

Submitted to: American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 31, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is considered to be one of the most economically important diseases faced by the U.S. swine industry. Control of this costly disease depends on a quick and accurate diagnosis, which in most cases is accomplished by isolating the causative virus from suspected cases. Because the particular sample can affect the success of virus isolation, we compared three types of samples (blood, tonsils, and alveolar macrophages) that from previous studies were thought to have the greatest potential for providing a reliable diagnosis. Our results indicate that for diagnostic purposes tonsils are at least good as blood, which is currently the most commonly used sample, and that alveolar macrophages are better than either blood or tonsils when samples are collected from pigs that have been infected for at least several weeks. This information will contribute to improved diagnostic procedures for PRRS.