Testing of umbilical cords by real time PCR is suitable for assessing vertical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus under field conditions

Gerard E Martín-Valls; Mireia Hidalgo; Esmeralda Cano; Enric Mateu

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.01.008

Testing of umbilical cords by real time PCR is suitable for assessing vertical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus under field conditions

Vet J. 2018 Apr:234:27-29. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.01.008. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Authors

Gerard E Martín-Valls¹, Mireia Hidalgo², Esmeralda Cano², Enric Mateu³

Affiliations

¹ Department Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA-UAB), Edifici CRESA, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. Electronic address: gerard.martin@uab.cat.
² Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA-UAB), Edifici CRESA, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
³ Department Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA-IRTA-UAB), Edifici CRESA, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.

PMID: 29680389
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.01.008

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the suitability of umbilical cord (UC) sampling and ear vein swabbing (EVS) as alternatives to jugular vein bleeding (JVB) for the assessment of vertical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Twelve farms suspected to be PRRSV-positive unstable were selected and the three types of samples were obtained from 21 batches of newborn piglets (n=387). The proportions of positive results, viral loads and time spent to collect the samples were compared. UC yielded the highest detection rate, with 76 positives compared to 55 JVB- and 45 EV-positive results (P<0.05). Average Ct values were 26.6±8.5 for JVB, 30.8±6.4 for EV and 32.1±4.85 for UC (P<0.01). UC was the fastest collection method (mean 24s vs. 55s for EV and 72s for JVB; P<0.05). In this study, UC testing was a faster and more sensitive alternative to JVB or EV for the detection of PRRSV in newborn piglets.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Monitoring; PRRSV; Vertical transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Female
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / veterinary
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / transmission*
Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / isolation & purification*
Pregnancy
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary*
Swine
Umbilical Cord / virology*