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The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 and PRRSV-2 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines when administered at 1 day of age under field conditions. The piglets elicited anti-PRRSV antibodies at 1 day of age even in the presence of maternally derived antibodies. The number of PRRSV-2 genomic copies in the sera of pigs from the PRRSV-2 MLV-vaccinated pigs was significantly (P

Background The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a trivalent vaccine mixture and compare it to the respective monovalent vaccines against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Results Pigs that were triple challenged with M. hyopneumoniae, PCV2, and PRRSV following vaccination with the trivalent vaccine mixture exhibited a significantly better growth performance when compared to unvaccinated and challenged pigs. A statistical difference was not found when comparing pig populations which were vaccinated with the trivalent vaccine followed by a triple challenge and pigs vaccinated with monovalent M hyopneumoniae vaccine followed by mycoplasmal single challenge in the following areas: M. hyopneumoniae nasal shedding, the number of M. hyopneumoniae-specific interferon-γ secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC), and mycoplasmal lung lesion scores. Pigs vaccinated with the trivalent vaccine mixture followed by a triple challenge resulted in a similar reduction of PCV2 viremia, an increase in the number of PCV2-specific IFN-γ-SC and reduction in interstitial lung lesion scores when compared to pigs vaccinated with a PCV-2 vaccine and challenged with PCV2 only. Lastly, there was a significant difference in the reduction of PRRSV viremia, an increase in PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SC and a reduction of interstitial lung lesion scores between pigs vaccinated with the trivalent vaccine mixture followed by a triple challenge and pigs vaccinated with a monovalent PRRSV vaccine followed by PRRSV challenge only. Conclusion The trivalent vaccine mixture was efficacious against a triple challenge of M. hyopneumoniae, PCV2, and PRRSV. The trivalent vaccine mixture, however, did not result in equal protection when compared against each respective monovalent vaccine, with the largest vaccine occurring within PRRSV.

The efficacy of four commercial porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines against respiratory disease was evaluated and compared in pig farms suffering from co-infection with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. All vaccinated groups on average exhibited improved growth rate compared to the unvaccinated pigs. Interestingly, the two groups vaccinated with either of the PRRSV-2 MLV vaccines had a better overall growth rate compared to the pigs vaccinated with either of the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccines. Vaccination of pigs with either of the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccines did not result in reduction of PRRSV-1 or PRRSV-2 viremia whereas vaccination of pigs with either of the PRRSV-2 MLV vaccines resulted in the reduction of PRRSV-2 viremia only. Taken together, the results of this field study demonstrate that a PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine can be efficacious against respiratory disease caused by co-infection with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2.

We have evaluated the cross-protection of a modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine based on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-2, against a heterologous PRRSV-1 challenge in late term pregnancy gilts. Gilts were vaccinated 42 days prior to breeding and then challenged intranasally with PRRSV-1 at 93 days of gestation. No local or systemic adverse effects related to vaccination were observed in the vaccinated gilts throughout the study. Vaccination resulted in a longer gestation period, a higher number of live-born and weaned piglets, and a significant decrease in the number of stillborn piglets compared to the unvaccinated group. The PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine was also able to significantly reduce PRRSV-1 viremia. At the time of PRRSV-1 challenge, vaccinated gilts had significantly higher PRRSV-1 specific interferon-γ secreting cells but low neutralizing antibody titers against PRRSV-1 compared to unvaccinated gilts. This correlated with a reduction of PRRSV-1 viremia, indicating that cell-mediated rather than humoral immunity played a role in PRRSV-1 clearance from the blood. Fetal thymic tissues from vaccinated pregnant gilts had fewer PRRSV-1 positive cells compared to unvaccinated gilts. Taken together these results indicate that vaccination of gilts with PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine can provide cross-protection against PRRSV-1 challenge and improve reproductive performance.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a commercial porcine circovirus type 2a (PCV2a) subunit vaccine against experimental PCV2a, PCV2b, and PCV2d challenge. A total of 105 pigs were randomly divided into 7 groups (15 pigs per group). At 21 days old the pigs were intramuscularly administered the PCV2a vaccine as a 1.0 mL dose. Four weeks following vaccination, pigs were challenged with either Korean PCV2a, PCV2b, or PCV2d. All vaccinated pigs showed a significant (P

Type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (PRRSV) was first isolated in Korea in 1994. The commercial PRRS modified live vaccine (Ingelvac® PRRS MLV, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., St. Joseph, Missouri, USA) based on type 2 PRRSV, was first licensed for use in 3- to 18-week-old pigs in Korea in 1996. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of this 20 year old commercial PRRS modified live vaccine (MLV) against two recent PRRSV isolates. Two genetically distant type 2 PRRSV strains (SNUVR150004 for lineage 1 and SNUVR150324 for lineage 5), isolated in 2015, were used as challenge virus. Regardless of the challenge virus, vaccination of pigs effectively reduced the level of viremia, the lung lesions, and of the PRRSV antigen within the lung lesions. The induction of virus-specific interferon-γ secreting cells by the PRRS vaccine produced a protective immune response, leading to the reduction of PRRSV viremia. There were no significant differences in efficacy against the two recently isolated viruses by the PRRS MLV based on virological results, immunological responses, and pathological outcomes. This study demonstrates that the PRRS MLV used in this study is still effective against recently isolated heterologous type 2 PRRSV strains even after 20 years of use in over 35 million pigs

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of concurrent vaccination of pigs with both type 1 and type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine against heterologous dual challenge of both genotypes and compare with single vaccination of pigs against heterologous single challenge of both genotypes. Pigs were administered both type 1 and type 2 PRRSV vaccine concurrently into separate anatomical sites at 28 days of age and inoculated intranasally with both genotypes at 63 days of age. Neutralizing antibodies (NA) were not detected in any pigs in any group (NA titer

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of concurrent vaccination with a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine and a PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine against a dual heterologous PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 challenge in late term pregnancy gilts. Gilts were concurrently administered PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 MLV vaccines at 21 days prior to breeding at separate anatomical sites and were inoculated intranasally with both PRRSV types at 93 days of gestation. Vaccinated gilts had a higher number of live-born and weaned pigs, and a decrease in stillbirths compared to the unvaccinated control group following a dual challenge. Concurrent vaccination resulted also in the reduction of both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 viremia which correlated with an increase in the number of PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 specific interferon-γ secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC). We believe the T cell responses contributed to the reduction of both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 viremia. The results presented here demonstrate that concurrent vaccination with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 MLV vaccines improves reproductive performance, reduces viremia of PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2, and induces protective T cell reactions against dual PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 challenge in late term pregnancy gilts without local and systemic adverse reactions related to concurrent vaccination.

The objective of this study was to compare the severity of reproductive failure caused by either a single or a dual infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 and PRRSV-2 in late-term pregnancy gilts. Pregnant gilts were intranasally administered PRRSV-1, PRRSV-2 or both at 3 weeks before the expected farrowing date (93 days of gestation). Regardless of single and dual infection, PRRSV-infected pregnant gilts experienced premature farrowing (103-109 days of gestation) compared with negative control gilts which carried their pregnancy to full term (114-115 days of gestation). Pregnant gilts infected with only PRRSV-1 had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of genomic copies of PRRSV-1 in their blood compared with dually infected gilts. Additionally, stillborn foetuses and live-born piglets from pregnant gilts infected with only PRRSV-1 had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of PRRSV-1-positive cells per unit area of tissue sections examined, compared to pregnant gilts dually infected with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. In contrast, pregnant gilts infected with only PRRSV-2 showed no difference in the number of genomic copies of PRRSV-2 compared with dually infected pregnant gilts and there were no significant differences in PRRSV-2-positive cells per unit area in tissues of stillborn foetuses and live-born piglets from pregnant gilts infected with PRRSV-2 only compared with dually infected gilts. Interestingly, even though PRRSV-2 was shown to replicate more efficiently compared with PRRSV-1 in dually infected pregnant gilts, neither PRRSV type was able to exacerbate reproductive failure in pregnant gilts already dually infected with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. Our results suggest that the severity of reproductive failure is similar between dual (PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2) and single infection (PRRSV-1 or PRRSV-2).

The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy of two commercial type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified live vaccines against heterologous type 1 and type 2 PRRSV challenge in growing pigs. Vaccination with a type 1 PRRSV vaccine reduced the level of viremia after type 1 PRRSV challenge but did not reduce the level of viremia after the type 2 PRRSV challenge in pigs. Increased levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) stimulated by type 2 PRRSV coincided with the low numbers of type 2 PRRSV-specific interferon gamma-secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) in vaccinated pigs after type 2 PRRSV challenge, whereas low levels of IL-10 stimulated by type 1 PRRSV coincided with high numbers of type 1 PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SC in vaccinated pigs after type 1 PRRSV challenge. Additionally, vaccination with the type 1 PRRSV vaccine effectively reduced the lung lesions and type 1 PRRSV nucleic acids in type 1 PRRSV-challenged pigs but did not reduce lung lesions and type 2 PRRSV nucleic acids in type 2 PRRSV-challenged pigs. There were no significant differences between two commercial type 1 PRRSV vaccines against type 1 and type 2 PRRSV challenge based on virological results, immunological responses, and pathological outcomes. This study demonstrates that vaccinating pigs with the type 1 PRRSV vaccine provides partial protection against respiratory disease with heterologous type 1 PRRSV challenge but no protection with heterologous type 2 PRRSV challenge.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two commercial type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-modified live vaccines on type 1 and type 2 PRRSV shedding in the semen of experimentally infected boars. Upon challenge with PRRSV, unvaccinated boars exhibited an increase in daily rectal temperature (39.4-39.7°C). Vaccination of boars with type 1 PRRSV significantly reduced the amount of type 1 PRRSV load in blood and semen after challenge with type 1 PRRSV, but barely reduced the amount of type 2 PRRSV load in blood and semen after the type 2 PRRSV challenge. There were no significant differences in the reduction of viremia and seminal shedding of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV between the two commercial vaccines. The seminal shedding of PRRSV is independent of viremia. The reduction of type 1 PRRSV seminal shedding coincided with the appearance of type 1 PRRSV-specific interferon-γ secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) in vaccinated type 1 PRRSV-challenged boars. The frequencies of type 1 PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SC induced by type 1 PRRSV vaccine are relatively high compared to type 2 PRRSV-specific IFN-γ-SC induced by the same vaccine which may explain why type 1 PRRSV vaccine is more effective in reducing seminal shedding of type 1 PRRSV when compared to type 2 PRRSV in vaccinated challenged boars. These results provide clinical information on how to reduce seminal shedding of type 1 PRRSV in boars using type 1 PRRSV-modified live vaccine.

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a commercially available porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine against PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 challenge in late-term pregnancy gilts. Gilts were vaccinated with the PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine at 4 weeks prior to breeding and then challenged intranasally with PRRSV-1 or PRRSV-2 at 93 days of gestation. After PRRSV-1 challenge, vaccinated pregnant gilts had a significantly longer gestation period, significantly higher numbers of live-born and weaned piglets and a significantly lower number of stillborn piglets at birth compared to unvaccinated pregnant gilts. No significant improvement in reproductive performance was observed between vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant gilts following PRRSV-2 challenge. Vaccinated pregnant gilts also exhibited a significantly improved reproductive performance after challenge with PRRSV-1 compared to vaccinated pregnant gilts following PRRSV-2 challenge. The PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine was able to reduce PRRSV-1 but not PRRSV-2 viremia in pregnant gilts. Vaccinated gilts also showed a significantly higher number of PRRSV-1-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) compared to PRRSV-2-specific IFN-γ-SC. The data presented here suggest that the vaccination of pregnant gilts with a PRRSV-1 MLV vaccine provides good protection against PRRSV-1 but only limited protection against PRRSV-2 challenge in late-term pregnancy gilts based on improvement of reproductive performance, reduction in viremia and induction of IFN-γ-SC.

A porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified live-virus (MLV) vaccine was evaluated under field conditions for registration as recommended by the Republic of Korea's Animal, PlantFisheries QuarantineInspection Agency. A single dose of the vaccine was administered to 1-day-old piglets and their growth performance was monitored under field conditions. Three separate farms were selected based on their history of PRRSV-associated respiratory diseases. On each farm, 40 pigs were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups: (i) vaccinated (n = 20) and (ii) unvaccinated (n = 20) pigs at 1 day of age. Vaccinated pigs showed an increase of their market weight of 6.23 kg/pig compared to the unvaccinated pigs (98.01 kg in vaccinated group vs. 91.78 kg in unvaccinated group; P 0.05) and exhibited a decrease in mortality rate by 6.7% (3.3% in vaccinated group vs. 10% in unvaccinated group; P 0.05). The pigs had a sufficiently mature immune system for the vaccine to elicit humoral and cell-mediated immunity (as measured by anti-PRRSV antibodies and PRRSV-specific interferon-γ secreting cells, respectively) at 1 day of age even in the presence of maternally derived antibodies. The results presented in this study demonstrate that the PRRSV MLV vaccine is effective in improving growth performance from day 1 all the way to day 182 in endemic farms suffering with PRRSV-2 infection or both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 infection.

The objective of this field study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of sows after vaccination with a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) subunit vaccine (PRRSFREE PRRS subunit vaccine, Reber Genetics, Taiwan, Republic of China) under field conditions. The study was performed in three farms with endemic infections with both PRRS virus (PRRSV)-1 and PRRSV-2, a situation representative of most Korean farms. Pregnant sows were immunised intramuscularly with 2.0 ml of the PRRS subunit vaccine at 58 and 79 days of gestation (eight and five weeks antepartum) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Vaccination did not result in any observed adverse reaction. Vaccinated sows exhibited a significant improvement in reproductive performance (reduction of abortions) and litter characteristics (increase of weaned pigs) compared with unvaccinated sows. Vaccinated sows had significantly (P

The efficacy of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) modified-live virus vaccine in reproductive performance was evaluated under field conditions. Three PRRS endemic farms were selected based on their history of PRRS-associated reproductive failures. On each farm, a total of 40 sows were randomly allocated to either vaccinated (n=20) or unvaccinated (n=20) groups. Sows were vaccinated six weeks prior to breeding. Clinical data showed a significant improvement in reproductive performance in vaccinated sows. Sows in the vaccinated groups had a significantly (P

The change in growth performance resulting from a new modified live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) vaccine was evaluated under field conditions for registration with the government as guided by the Republic of Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Three farms were selected based on their history of PRRS-associated respiratory diseases. On each farm, a total of 45 3-week-old pigs were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups, (i) vaccinated (n= 25) or (ii) control (n= 20) animals. A new modified live PRRSV vaccine increased market weight by 1.26 kg/pig (104.71 kg versus 103.45 kg;P< 0.05) and decreased mortality by 17% (1.33% versus 18.33%;P< 0.05). Pathological examination indicated that vaccination effectively reduced microscopic lung lesions compared with control animals on the 3 farms. Thus, the new modified live PRRS vaccine improved growth performance and decreased mortality and lung lesions when evaluated under field conditions.

The objective of this study was to develop digoxigenin-labeled in situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of Streptococcus suis in naturally infected pigs with polyserositis and to compare it with biotinylated ISH. Digoxigenin-labeled hybridization signals for S. suis were observed in cells that had infiltrated the fibrous polyserositis and microcolonies in the blood vessels. Mock hybridization showed no hybridization signals for endogenous digoxigenin. Biotinylated hybridization signals for S. suis were observed in cells that had infiltrated the fibrous polyserositis. However, similar hybridization signals were also observed in the fibrous inflammatory area using mock hybridization for endogenous biotin. The present study demonstrated that digoxigenin-labeled ISH is a valuable diagnostic tool for specific detection of S. suis in polyserositic tissues without nonspecific reactions compared with biotinylated ISH.

The objective of the present study was to compare the ability of 2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; SDOW17 and SR30) to detect types 1 and 2 Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to compare the immunohistochemical results with in situ hybridization (ISH) and reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) detection techniques. Lungs from 30 experimentally infected pigs (15 pigs with each genotype of PRRSV) and 20 naturally infected pigs (10 pigs with each genotype of PRRSV) with types 1 and 2 PRRSV, respectively, were used for the IHC, ISH, and RT-nPCR analyses. The SR30 mAb-based IHC detected significantly more type 1 PRRSV-positive cells in the accessory and caudal lobes from the experimentally infected pigs at 7 (P = 0.025) and 14 (P = 0.018) days postinoculation, respectively, compared to the SDOW17 mAb-based IHC. The results demonstrated that SR30 mAb-based IHC is useful for detecting both types 1 and 2 PRRSV antigen in FFPE lung tissues.

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of the modified live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine (Ingelvac PRRS MLV; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, St. Joseph, MO) on European and North American PRRSV shedding in the semen of experimentally infected boars. The boars were randomly divided into six groups. Vaccinated boars shed the North American PRRSV at the rate of 100.1to 101.0viral genome copies per ml and 3.63 to 101.150% tissue culture infective doses (TCID50)/ml, respectively, in semen, whereas nonvaccinated boars shed the North American PRRSV at the rate of 100.2to 104.7viral genome copies per ml and 1.14 to 103.07TCID50/ml, respectively, in semen. Vaccinated boars shed the European PRRSV at the rate of 100.1to 104.57viral genome copies per ml and 1.66 to 103.10TCID50/ml, respectively, in semen, whereas nonvaccinated boars shed the European PRRSV at the rate of 100.3to 105.14viral genome copies per ml and 1.69 to 103.17TCID50/ml, respectively, in semen. The number of genomic copies of the European PRRSV in semen samples was not significantly different between vaccinated and nonvaccinated challenged European PRRSV boars. The present study demonstrated that boar vaccination using commercial modified live PRRSV vaccine was able to decrease subsequent shedding of North American PRRSV in semen after challenge but was unable to decrease shedding of European PRRSV in semen after challenge.

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of an inactivated porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine on PCV2b virus shedding in the semen of experimentally infected boars by measuring the immunological response and the PCV2b DNA load in blood and semen. Twelve boars were randomly divided into three groups. The boars in group 1 (n= 4) were immunized with an inactivated PCV2 vaccine and were challenged with PCV2b. The boars in group 2 (n= 4) were only challenged with PCV2b. The boars in group 3 (n= 4) served as negative controls. The number of PCV2 genome copies of PCV2 in the serum and semen were significantly lower in vaccinated challenged boars than in nonvaccinated challenged boars at 7, 10, 14, 21, 32, 35, 42, 49, and 60 days postinoculation. The number of PCV2b genomes in the semen correlated with the number of PCV2b genomes in the blood in both vaccinated challenged (R= 0.714) and nonvaccinated challenged (R= 0.861) boars. The results of the present study demonstrate that the inactivated PCV2 vaccine significantly decreases the amount of PCV2b DNA shedding in semen from vaccinated boars after experimental infection with PCV2b.

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of how Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae enhances secondary Pasteurella multocida type A infection which leads to porcine enzootic pneumonia in infected pigs. Sixteen pigs were experimentally infected with M. hyopneumoniae and then euthanized at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post inoculation. In situ hybridization for M. hyopneumoniae DNA and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) lectin histochemistry for fucosyl glycoconjugate, was performed in serial lung sections to determine alteration of fucosyl glycoconjugate in M. hyopneumoniae-infected bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium. Bacterial overlay assay was performed to determine the affinity of P. multocida type A with L-fucose. Results: The luminal surface of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells that were stained with UEA-I always showed hybridization signals for M. hyopneumoniae but it was negative in the unaffected parts of the lung from M. hyopneumoniae-infected pigs and in lung from negative control pigs. Colocalization of M. hyopneumoniae and UEA-I was especially prominent in the luminal surface of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells in serial section of lung. The mean number of M. hyopneumoniae-positive cells correlated with the mean number of UEA-I-positive cells in lungs from infected pigs throughout the experiment. All eight P. multocida type A isolates from naturally occurring enzootic pneumonia, bound strongly at levels of 2 mu g and 5 mu g of L-fucose. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate that M. hyopneumoniae increases the L-fucose composition to enhance adherence of P. multocida type A to the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells.

The aim of this study was to develop in situ hybridization for detection of Mycoplasma hyorhinis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues from pigs with polyserositis. M. hyorhinis was isolated from the spleen (2 pigs) and pericardium (1 pig). M. hyorhinis DNA was detected 16 out of 20 pigs with polyserositis. In situ hybridization produced a distinct positive signal for the M. hyorhinis p37 gene in inflammatory cells in the polyserositis. In situ hybridization developed in the present study present diagnostic tools capable of detection of M. hyorhinis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues from the naturally infected pigs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new modified live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine (Fostera PRRS, Zoetis, Florham, NJ, USA) that was based on a virulent US PRRSV isolate (P129) attenuated using CD163-expressing cell lines. Sixty-four PRRSV-seronegative 3-week-old pigs were randomly divided into the following four groups: vaccinated challenged (group 1), vaccinated unchallenged (group 2), unvaccinated challenged (group 3), and unvaccinated unchallenged (group 4). The pigs in groups 1 and 2 were immunized with a 2.0 mL dose of modified live PRRSV vaccine at 21 days of age, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. At 56 days of age (0 days post-challenge), the pigs in groups 1 and 3 were inoculated intranasally with 3 mL of tissue culture fluid containing 10(5) 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50)/mL of PRRSV (SNUVR090851 strain, fourth passage in MARC-145 cells). Vaccinated challenged pigs exhibited significantly lower (P

Background Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) now has two main genotypes, genotype 1 (European) and genotype 2 (North American). There is a lack of data on the comparison of pathogenicity of the two genotypes in boars. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the amount of PRRSV present in semen over time and compare the viral distribution and microscopic lesions of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-infected boars. Methods Twenty-four 8-month-old PRRSV-naïve Duroc boars were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups. The boars in groups 1 (n = 9) and 2 (n = 9) were intranasally inoculated with type 1 or type 2 PRRSV, respectively. The boars in groups 1 (n = 6) served as negative controls. Semen and blood samples were collected up to 35 days post-inoculation (dpi), and necropsies were performed on 14, 21, and 35 dpi. Results There were no significant differences in the genomic copy number of PRRSV, microscopic testicular lesion score, number of PRRSV-positive germ cells, or number of apoptotic cells between the type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-infected boars throughout the experiment. Histopathological changes were manifested by the desquamation of spermatocytes and the presence of multinucleated giant cells in seminiferous tubules of both type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-infected boars. The distribution of PRRSV-positive cells was focal; the virus was found in single germ cells or small clusters of germ cells, localized to the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and non-sperm cells in type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-infected boars. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrated that two genotypes of PRRSV do not have significantly different virulence toward the male reproductive system of pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine the pathogenesis of experimental infection with a type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by defining the sites of viral replication and apoptosis in male gonads from infected boars for a period of 21 days after intranasal inoculation. Microscopically, hypospermatogenesis and abundant germ cell depletion and death were observed in the testes. Such germ cell death occurs by apoptosis, as determined by a characteristic histological patterns and evidence of massive DNA fragment detected in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) reaction. PRRSV was detected in the testicular tissue of infected boars only. Viral nucleic acid was localized in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids but not in the vesicular and bulbourethral gland. In serial sections, PRRSV-positive cells did not co-localized with apoptotic cells. TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were more numerous than PRRSV-positive cells in testicular sections. The present study demonstrated that type 1 PRRSV infects the spermatogonia and their progeny, and induces apoptosis in these germ cells.

This study was to compare the effect of vaccination of pigs with either type 1 or type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) against heterologous dual challenge of both genotypes. Pigs were administered type 1 (UNISTRAIN PRRS) or type 2 (Fostera PRRS) PRRSV vaccine at 28 days of age and inoculated intranasally with both genotypes at 63 days of age. Vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV was able to reduce the levels of type 1 but not type 2 PRRSV viraemia, whereas vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV was able to reduce the levels of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV viraemia against a dual challenge. Vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV significantly reduced lung lesions after dual challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV. Vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV induced higher numbers of type 1 and type 2 PRRSV-specific interferon-γ secreting cells compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV after dual challenge. The results of this study demonstrated that vaccination of pigs with type 2 PRRSV is efficacious in protecting growing pigs from respiratory disease after heterologous dual type 1 and type 2 PRRSV challenge compared with vaccination of pigs with type 1 PRRSV.

This study was conducted to determine if humoral antibody response of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine improved in 8-week-old growing pigs born to well-vaccinated sows pre-treated with 60 mg of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) three days before vaccination. Antibody against FMD virus serotype O was measured 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks post-vaccination, using a PrioCHECK FMDV type O ELISA kit. The results showed that positive antibody reactions against FMDV serotype O antigen among a component of the vaccine significantly increased in response to pre-injection with γ-PGA.

The objective of the present study was to determine if the European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can be transmitted via spiked semen to preimmunized sows and induce reproductive failure. Sows were immunized with the North American PRRSV-based modified live vaccine (Ingelvac PRRS MLV; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, St. Joseph, MO) and were artificially inseminated. The sows were randomly divided into three groups. The vaccinated (group 2) and nonvaccinated (group 3) sows developed a PRRSV viremia at 7 to 28 days postinsemination with the European PRRSV-spiked semen. The number of genomic copies of the European PRRSV in serum samples was not significantly different between vaccinated and nonvaccinated sows. All negative-control sows in group 1 farrowed at the expected date. The sows in groups 2 and 3 farrowed between 103 and 110 days after the first insemination. European PRRSV RNA was detected in the lungs of 8 out of 11 live-born piglets and 46 out of 54 stillborn fetuses. In addition, PRRSV RNA was detected usingin situhybridization in other tissues from vaccinated sows that had been inseminated with European PRRSV-spiked semen (group 2). The present study has demonstrated that vaccinating sows with the North American PRRSV-based modified live vaccine does not prevent reproductive failure after insemination with European PRRSV-spiked semen.

The expression patterns of different secreted (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6) and membrane-bound (MUC4) mucins were determined immunohistochemically in the lungs of pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Forty-seven-week-old colostrum-deprived pigs were randomly allocated to infected (n=20) or control groups (n=20). Five infected and uninfected pigs were euthanized at 0, 6, 12, and 48 h post-inoculation (hpi). In the infected pigs, the expression of both types of mucins, which were invariably observed, was associated with bronchiolar and respiratory bronchiolar lesions. Strong positive mucin signals were seen on the surface of bronchiolar and respiratory bronchiolar epithelium with neutrophil infiltration. The mean mucin-positive area peaked at 6 hpi and decreased significantly to control levels by 48 hpi on the surface of the bronchiolar and respiratory bronchiolar epithelium. Further studies are needed to establish the functional relationship between mucin expression and the host defense mechanism against A. pleuropneumoniae in the lungs of infected pigs.

We investigated the localization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in the mammary glands of experimentally infected sows using reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry. Six pregnant sows were inoculated intranasally with PRRSV three weeks prior to the predicted farrowing date. The six PRRSV-infected sows and two uninfected negative control sows remained clinically healthy and farrowed normally. Milk samples were collected from all sows on lactation days 1, 2, and 3. PRRSV was detected in milk as early as lactation day 1 in all of the PRRSV-infected sows, but not in the uninfected sows. PRRSV antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry in macrophage-like cells in the alveolar lumina of the mammary glands and in other tissues. Our results show that PRRSV is shed in the milk of infected sows, and that PRRSV antigen is present in the mammary glands of experimentally infected sows.