Swine 6 Flashcards
PRRS genus, and related virus
Genus Arteriveridae - related to:
§ Equine arteritis virus (EAV)
Clinical properties of genus arteriveridae; type of infections and disease, where they replicate, genome feature
§ Can cause asymptomatic persistent infections
§ Can cause severe fatal disease
§ Replicate in macrophages
§ Exhibit considerable genome plasticity
carrier state of PRRS, and shedding? what related characteristic makes control very difficult?
n Persistent - prolonged carrier state
n >100 d, some evidence >200 d
n Some field observations suggest most infected pigs cease shedding the virus in 60 days
n Shedding carriers are probably the most significant source of virus (think quarantine barn!)
n Can be a persistent carrier and have antibodies
> unique characteristic that makes control very difficult.
PRRSV - infectivity? contagiousness? cross-protection between strains?
n Highly infectious
> low minimum infectious dose (10 virions)
n Not considered highly contagious
> slow area spread, anecdotal opinions that it spreads in air
n Heterologous strains are not fully cross-
protective
is PRRSV endemic, or epidemic…….or?
Endemic – with epidemics of new strains occurring
n Subclinical - western Canada
n Clinical - virulent strain in Ontario
PRRSV virulence? strains?
n Considerable variation in virulence among strains
n Distinct clusters which are antigenically & genetically distinct:
n European strains (Lelysted virus)
n N.A. strains (VR2322)
n Highly pathogenic PRRS – high fever disease (China)
PRSSV; genome changes and significance
Antigenic drift within a herd
n Positive herds can become infected
with a 2nd strain
PRRSV incidence
Pig-producing countries
(not Australia)
n Approximately 80% of herds in Ontario are +ve
n Not all positive herds have clinical signs
PRRSV environmental survivability and susceptibility
- Environmental survival -temperature dependent
§ Frozen (-20oC): months to years
§ Room temp (20oC): 6 days - Susceptible to drying, detergents & disinfectants (Lysol)
PRRSV - Transmission methods
vertical
horizontal
fomites
aerosol?
vertical transmission of PRRSV
n Shed in semen of infected boars
n Transplacental (mid & late pregnancy)
> Sows infected earlier in pregnancy may deliver viremic piglets
horizontal transmission of PRRSV
(pig to pig; dam to piglet)
- Within herd: to naïve nursery piglets as passive antibody wanes
> Pig-to-pig contact: especially if pigs fight
> Needles can transfer virus from one litter to another
- Between herds: by infected replacement gilts & boars***
fomite transmission of PRRSV
n Mechanical vectors (trucks, incoming supplies, etc)
n Insects: mosquitoes & flies
> carry live virus in GIT for short periods over short distances ~2.3 km
Aerosol transmission of PRRSV
n Highly prevalent in most hog dense regions
n Airborne transmission: at least over short distances
PRRSV: Clinical Signs in pregnant females
Infection of pregnant females:
- Anorexia, fever (1-5 days post-infection)
- Sow mortality – if virulent strain
1st & 2nd trimester – minimal impact on pregnancy viability
3rd trimester – transplacental infection (~72 days):
- Reproductive failure (i.e. abortion, premature farrowing) & infertility lasting up to 4 months post-infection
PRRSV effects of late gestation infection ( ~72 days)
late gestation ~72 days
n Abortions
n Premature farrowings
- <110 d gestation
- Premature farrowing (<110 d) are indicative of PRRS.
n Stillbirths, mummified, autolysed near- term fetuses
n Weak born piglets congenitally infected