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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #100743
Title: EVIDENCE FOR THE PERSISTENCE OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS IN PIGS

Author
item MEZENCIO, JOSE M. - FORMER PIADC EMPLOYEE
item BABCOCK, GWEN - USDA-APHIS, FADDL, PIADC
item Kramer Jr, Edward
item Brown, Fred

Submitted to: Veterinary Research Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Cattle and sheep which have been infected with FMDV become carriers of the virus and consequently potential sources of further outbreaks of the disease. It is generally held that swine do not become persistently infected. This paper presents evidence that swine do become persistently infected. Such evidence has important epidemiological implications.

Technical Abstract: The levels of antibodies against the non-structural proteins 2C, 3ABC and 3D, and the structural protein precursor P1 of FMDV in convalescent cattle and pigs fluctuate following the decline which occurs after the initial response to infection. We have now shown that the virus neutralizing activity of the sera also fluctuates in a similar manner. This fluctuation occurs shortly after the appearance in the serum of virus RNA, presumably in the form of virus particles complexed with the high levels of neutralizing antibody which are present. Significantly, these results indicate a previously undescribed persistence of the virus in domestic pigs similar to the well-described situation in cattle (Salt, 1993).