Dynamics of virus excretion and transmissibility of European-type PRRSV isolates of high and low virulence

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease causing high economic losses worldwide. The etiological agent, PRRS virus (PRRSV), is highly heterogenic.

This variability of PRRSV has resulted in the emergence of strains differing in virulence. Previous studies carried out with American-type isolates have demonstrated that the degree of virus transmission and aerosol shedding are related to isolate pathogenicity (1).

However, similar studies have never been done using European isolates. The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in virulence of European-type isolates significantly affect the frequency of shedding and transmission to sentinel pigs.

Francisco Javier Martinez-Lobo; Francisco Diez-Fuertes; Lidia Hornillos-Gumiel; Patricia Aguilar-Calvo; Isabel Simarro; Jose Maria Castro; Cinta Prieto

Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

For full presentation see attached pdf: