Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2018 Jun;200:32-39. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.04.007. Epub 2018 Apr 22.

Comparative evaluation of immune responses of swine in PRRS-stable and unstable herds.

Drigo M1, Giacomini E2, Lazzaro M2, Pasotto D1, Bilato D3, Ruggeri J2, Boniotti MB4, Alborali GL2, Amadori M5.

Author information

1

Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, Veterinary Padua University, Viale dell'Università 16-Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.

2

Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, via A. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.

3

Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, via A. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.

4

Genomics Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, via A. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.

5

Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, via A. Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.amadori@izsler.it.

Abstract

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is an elusive model of host/virus relationship in which disease is determined by virus pathogenicity, pig breed susceptibility and phenotype, microbial infectious pressure and environmental conditions. Successful disease control in PRRS-endemic Countries corresponds to "stability", i.e. a condition with no clinical signs of PRRS in the breeding-herd population and no viremia in weaning-age pigs. The aim of this work was to compare the profile and time-course of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in stable and unstable herds, respectively. In particular, we investigated PRRS virus (PRRSV) in serum and group oral fluid samples by Real-time RT-PCR, PRRSV-specific IgA and IgG in oral fluids, serum IgG antibody and the cell-mediated response (PRRSV-specific release of interferon-gamma) in whole blood samples. These parameters were measured in order to identify possible discrepancies in the development and kinetics of the immune response against PRRSV. PRRS-free gilts got regularly infected after entering PRRS-stable and unstable farms. In an open cycle, unstable pig farm PRRSV infection could be demonstrated in all groups of pigs, including suckling piglets. Four main results should be highlighted: A) the precocity of the Ab response in group oral fluids was generally similar to that recorded in sera; B) circulation of PRRSV was consistently detected in all age groups in the unstable herds, as opposed to the stable ones; C) an early, balanced, IgA and IgG response in oral fluids was only observed in the stable herds; D) an early IFN-gamma response after PRRSV infection was often observed in stable herds, as opposed to the unstable ones. These were characterized by IFN-gamma responses in piglets, likely due to transfer of maternal immunity. Most important, the mucosal IgA response was associated with cessation of virus excretion in oral fluid samples of PRRS-unstable herds. The above findings indicate that a peculiar profile of immune response to PRRSV can be found in PRRS-stable herds. Therefore, the outlined immune parameters can represent a useful readout system to evaluate successful adaptation to PRRSV based on acclimatization of breeding animals and management of pig flow.

KEYWORDS: 

Cell-mediated immunity; Herd; Mucosal immunity; PRRS; Pig; Stability

PMID:

 

29776610

 

DOI:

 

10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.04.007