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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection on the performance of pregnant gilts and growing pigs

Craig R. G. Lewis A D G , Tahar Ait-Ali A , Alison Wilson A , Dave G. Westcott B , Jean-Pierre Frossard B , Brindha Naidu B , Marnie A. Mellencamp C E , Montserrat Torremorell C F , Trevor Drew C , Stephen C. Bishop A and Alan L. Archibald A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin Biocentre, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK.

B Veterinary Laboratories Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK.

C PIC/Genus plc, Hendersonville, TN 37075, USA.

D Present address: Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.

E Present address: Ralco Nutrition Inc., 1600 Hahn Road, Marshall, MN 56258, USA.

F Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.

G Corresponding author. Email: clewis21@une.edu.au

Animal Production Science 50(9) 890-896 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN10023
Submitted: 8 February 2010  Accepted: 1 July 2010   Published: 29 September 2010

Abstract

This study examined the effects of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection on (1) pregnant and (2) growing Landrace and crossbred (Large White × Pietrain) pigs. First, recently pregnant gilts were spilt into a control and a challenged group, which was inoculated with the PRRSV, and phenotypic effects were recorded. In the Landrace breed, infected gilts had a significantly reduced number of fetuses (8.9 versus 11.8), but there were insufficient data to make the same comparison in crossbred gilts. The Landrace had a smaller suppression of weight gain during pregnancy than the crossbred line [56% (0.66 to 0.29 kg/day) versus 85% (0.45 to 0.07 kg/day) reduction], suggesting greater tolerance of the PRRSV infection. Second, impacts on growing pigs were examined with the same deliberate challenge methodology. Some pigs appeared not to become infected from the initial inoculation, but were possibly subsequently infected by cohorts. However, there were indications of Landrace line resistance in terms of an increased time to seroconvert, with weight gain patterns also suggesting Landrace tolerance. In summary, this study demonstrated that breeds differ consistently in phenotypic impacts of PRRSV infection.

Additional keywords: genetics, host–virus interactions, resistance.


Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC – EGA16307) and Genus plc. Data collection, animal care, and procurement were done with the help of VLA and PIC staff.


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