Serological and genetic characterization of the European strain of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in Korea |
June-Youp Kim, Seung-Yoon Lee, Jung-Hyang Sur, Young S. Lyoo |
College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University |
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Abstract |
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically important disease of swine that occurs all over the swine industry worldwide. It was first observed in the Unite States in 1987 then in Europe in 1990. It has been described in Japan and in Korea in 1993. PRRS virus is divided into two distinct types, North American and European, genetically. Based on our limited knowledge there has been no report on the existence of European PRRSV. But according to the government's Korea Customs Service there has been many importations of breeding pigs from Europe. These seem to make an estimate that European PRRSV could be introduced in Korea by inflow of European breeding pigs. We first detected the European PRRSV could be introduced in Korean pig farms by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Further, it is also identified that there are not only North American PRRSV antibody but also a European PRRSV antibody. According to the genetical and serological experiment results, the presence of established North American PRRSV in Korea is due to the use of live vaccines made of North American PRRSV strain as well field virus infection, and the European PRRSV is possibly introduced from imported breeding stock. |
Key Words:
European PRRSV, homology, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) |
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