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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290356
Title: Identification and tracking genomic variability using a PRRSV specific microarray platform

Author
item Nicholson, Tracy
item Spear, Allyn
item WILSON, TED - University Of Utah
item FISCHER, KAEL - University Of Utah
item Faaberg, Kay
item Brockmeier, Susan

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology General Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2013
Publication Date: 5/18/2013
Citation: Nicholson, T.L., Spear, A., Wilson, T., Fischer, K.F., Faaberg, K.S., Brockmeier, S. 2013. Identification and tracking genomic variability using a PRRSV specific microarray platform. American Society for Microbiology 113th General Meeting. Paper No. 827. p. 132.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Respiratory disease in pigs is the most important health concern for swine producers today and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the most economically significant disease affecting the pork industry worldwide. With a mutation rate approximately thirty times higher than HIV, PRRSV has the highest mutation rate of any known virus. Due to its high mutation rate and degree of genetic variability, there is a substantial need for improved diagnostic and surveillance tools to rapidly identify different and multiple PRRSV strains in swine samples and track genomic changes in field isolates of PRRSV. The objective of this project is to develop a microarray platform specific for PRRSV, with improved sensitivity, to function as a diagnostic tool to rapidly identify and differentiate viral strains, including novel or emerging isolates encoding a high degree of genetic variability compared to known isolates. We constructed a microarray platform that emphasizes key regions in the PRRSV genome for the purpose of increasing sensitivity and tracking genetic variability. Our results indicate that this platform successfully identified and distinguished the genetic variability of four different PRRSV isolates in cell culture samples. We are currently testing this platform to identify and differentiate PRRSV strains using antemortem clinical samples collected from PRRSV infected pigs. In conclusion, this microarray platform can be used effectively in veterinary clinical settings to rapidly identify and track genomic changes in PRRSV for animal health preparedness and future outbreaks.