Archives of Virology

, Volume 154, Issue 10, pp 1589–1597 | Cite as

Genetic variation and pathogenicity of highly virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus emerging in China

  • J. Wu
  • J. Li
  • F. Tian
  • S. Ren
  • M. Yu
  • J. Chen
  • Z. Lan
  • X. Zhang
  • Dongwan Yoo
  • Jinbao Wang
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

A highly pathogenic swine disease designated as ‘porcine high fever disease (PHFD)’ appeared recently in China. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was identified as an agent associated with PHFD, and two discontiguous sequence deletions were identified as a genetic marker in the Nsp2 region of the viral genome. To examine PHFD in Shandong province, a total of 10 PRRSV isolates were recovered from pig herds that had never been vaccinated for PRRS. Sequence analysis of open reading frame 5 (ORF5) showed that the level of identity among the 10 isolates ranged between 88.2 and 99.2%. For the non-structural protein 2 (Nsp2) gene, three isolates shared high sequence identity with VR-2332, the prototype virus of the North American genotype, while the remaining seven isolates exhibited two discontiguous sequence deletions that were identical to those of PHFD: a one-amino-acid (phenylalanine) deletion at position 482 and a 29-amino-acid deletion at positions 533–561 of Nsp2. Experimental infection of pigs with SD-JN, which was one of the seven isolates containing such deletions, resulted in severe clinical symptoms characterized by red discoloration on the body and hemorrhages in the lungs, kidneys, and inguinal lymph nodes, accompanied by higher mortality and longer duration of viremia. These symptoms were similar to those of PHFD observed in the field. Our results show that VR2332-like PRRSV coexists with PHFD-associated atypical PRRSV in pig herds in the Shandong area, and different PRRSV isolates differ greatly in their pathogenesis and virulence in pigs.

Keywords

Nsp2 Gene Lelystad Virus North American Genotype North American Type Nsp2 Region 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences Youth Funds (Grant No. 2005YQ039), Natural Scientific Funds of Shandong Province (Grant No. Z2007-D06), and Main and Special Funds for Science and Technology of Shandong Province (Grant No. 2007-ZHZX11103). DY is a recipient of the grant from USDA National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (2008-35204-04634).

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • J. Wu
    • 1
  • J. Li
    • 1
  • F. Tian
    • 2
  • S. Ren
    • 1
  • M. Yu
    • 1
  • J. Chen
    • 2
  • Z. Lan
    • 2
  • X. Zhang
    • 1
  • Dongwan Yoo
    • 3
  • Jinbao Wang
    • 1
  1. 1.Shandong Key Lab of Animal Disease Control and BreedingShandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
  2. 2.Shandong Center for Animal Disease Control and PreventionJinanChina
  3. 3.Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUrbanaUSA

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