The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) continues to monitor emerging swine disease issues globally and reports the PRRSv strain discovered in sera of sows in five premises in Uruguay this July has been identified as a type 2 North American genotype. PRRSv has historically been reported in other South American countries, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela, though this is a novel incident in Uruguay.
In a report prepared by the University of Minnesota with information provided by officials in Uruguay, 24 serum samples have tested positive for the presence of PRRSv antibodies by indirect ELISA. In addition, 15 and 19 sera were also positive by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using the US MN field strain and the reference strain US VR2332 respectively. RT-PCR results showed 13 positive sera for the type 2 North American type (PRRSV-NA), however, samples were negative for the type 1 European PRRSv (PRRSV-EU).
Sequences obtained from sera collected from affected sows in Uruguay share common ancestors (95.1 to 96.2 percent identities) with North American strains described between 2004 and 2015. Research also showed the sequences identified in Uruguay to be genetically distant from other strains reported in South America as well as commercial vaccines. To read the entire University of Minnesota report, click here.
Sharing information on PRRSv in Uruguay is an example of the continued monitoring and reporting responsibility SHIC fulfills. More regular releases of global swine disease incidence information will be provided by SHIC when the recently announced near real-time global swine disease monitoring system is in place. Work is already underway and the system is being tested and validated currently.
Funded by America’s pork producers to protect and enhance the health of the US swine herd, the Swine Health Information Center focuses its efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response. As a conduit of information and research, SHIC encourages sharing of its publications and research for the benefit of swine health. Forward, reprint, and quote SHIC material freely. For more information, visit http://www.swinehealth.org or contact Dr. Paul Sundberg at psundberg@swinehealth.org.