avian & livestock assay data sheet

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus

Test code: S0165 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of PRRSV by reverse transcription coupled real time polymerase chain reaction

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), also known as blue-ear pig disease, is a single stranded RNA envelop virus that causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs.

The viral genome has a size of approximately 15 kb and contains nine open reading frames. PRRSV is a member of the Arteriviridae family. Three related members of this family include equine arterivirus, simian hemorrhagic fever virus, and lactate dehydrogenase elevating virus.

Subclinical infections are common in infected pigs, resulting in high transmission potential. Clinical signs may occur only sporadically in an infected herd. Clinical signs include reproductive failure in sows (abortions, stillbirths, mummified fetuses), and cyanosis of the ear and vulva. In neonatal pigs, the disease causes respiratory distress, with increased susceptibility to respiratory infections such as Glasser's disease.

Detection of this virus by culture often has low sensitivity. Diagnosis based on serological methods is not always conclusive because of the high antigenic variability of the virus. Molecular detection by PCR can be useful for early diagnosis of the disease or to confirm serological results (Christopher-Hennings et al., 2002).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Identify PRRS carriers
• Help ensure that animal groups and populations are free of PRRS virus
• Early prevention of spread of the virus among animals
• Minimize human exposure to the virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from animals

References:
Christopher-Hennings, J, Faaberg, K.S., Murtaugh, M.P.,  Nelson, E.A., Roof, M.B., Vaughn, E.M., Yoon, K.J. and Zimmerman, J.J. (2002) Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) diagnostics: Interpretation and limitations. J. Swine Health and Prod. 10:213-218.

Specimen requirements: 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml semen, or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen or fixed tissue, or nasal swab or genital swab.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected