Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Elsevier - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 1998 Jan 5;55(1):265–276. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(96)01327-2

Immunity to PRRSV: Double-edged sword

TW Molitor 1,∗, EM Bautista 1, CS Choi 1
PMCID: PMC7117121  PMID: 9220622

Abstract

The immune system is a double-edged sword for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. On one edge PRRSV has a predilection for immune cells and the disease manifestations can be linked directly to changes in the immune system. PRRSV appears to replicate extensively, if not exclusively, in cells of the immune lineage, notably macrophages; the direct replication of which may lead to immunosuppression, precipitate secondary infection and/or mediate disease. On the other edge, the virus stimulates immunity post-infection that protects an animal from re-infection. A vast array of structural and functionally distinct antibody specific to PRRSV are generated following infection or vaccination. Discrete populations of functional antibodies appear at different times and possibly reflect reactivity to different PRRSV polypeptides. Cell-mediated immune responses specific to PRRSV can be detected in various exposed pigs as well. Thus, the immune system appears to be intimately involved in both the disease process and protection from disease. It is unclear at this state of understanding what immune compartment provides protective immunity. Is it humoral (i.e. antibodies), selective functionally distinct populations of antibodies specific for selected PRRSV polypeptides or is cellular immunity essential for protection, or both. This review will attempt to summarize the current state of knowledge of the complex interaction of the immune system and PRRSV.

Keywords: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Immunity

References

  1. Albina E., Leforban Y., Baron T., Plana Duran J.P., Vannier P. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Ann. Rech. Vet. 1992;23:167–176. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Albina E., Madec F., Cariolet R., Torrison J. Immune response and persistence of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in infected pigs and farm units. Vet. Rec. 1994;134:567–573. doi: 10.1136/vr.134.22.567. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Albina E., Cariolet R., Kobisch M. Proc. Int. Vet. Immunol. 1995. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) does not reduce the immune response and disease susceptibility of pigs. [Google Scholar]
  4. Bautista E.M., Goyal S.M., Yoon I.J., Joo H.S., Collins A.S. Comparison of porcine alveolar macrophages and CL-2621 for the detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and anti-PRRS antibody. J. Vet. Diag. Invest. 1993;5:163–165. doi: 10.1177/104063879300500204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bautista E.M., Choi C.S., Molitor T.W. Cell mediated immune responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Abstr. 2nd Int. Symp. on PRRS; Copenhagen, 9–10 August; 1995. [Google Scholar]
  6. Choi C.S., Christianson W.T., Gustafson K.V., Molitor T.W. Antibody-dependent enhancement of PRRS virus replication. Am. Assoc. Swine Pract. Newsl. 1992;4:19–21. [Google Scholar]
  7. Choi C.S., Gustafson K., Chinsakchai S., Hill H., Segales J., Pijoan C., Kim Y.B., Molitor T.W. Heterogeneity of porcine alveolar macrophages: Functional properties and susceptibility to virus infection. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 1995 in press. [Google Scholar]
  8. Christianson W.T., Choi C.S., Collins J.E., Molitor T.W., Morrison R.B., Joo H.S. Pathogenesis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in mid-gestation sows and fetuses. Can. J. Vet. Res. 1993;57:262–268. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Collins J.E., Rossow K. Pathogenesis of PRRS. Proc. A.D. Leman Conf.; St. Paul, MN; 1993. pp. 47–48. [Google Scholar]
  10. Dee S., Joo H.S. Prevention of spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus spread in endemically infected swine herds by nursery depopulation. Vet. Rec. 1994;135:6–9. doi: 10.1136/vr.135.1.6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dee S.A., Morrison R.B., Joo H. Eradicating porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRSS) virus using two-site production and nursery depopulation. Swine Health Product. 1993;1:20–23. [Google Scholar]
  12. Done S.H., Paton D.J. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome: Clinical disease, pathology and immunosuppression. Vet. Rec. 1995;136:32–35. doi: 10.1136/vr.136.2.32. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Galina L., Pijoan C., Sitjar M., Christianson W.T., Rossow K., Collins J.K. Interaction between Streptococcus suis serotype 2 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in specific pathogen-free piglets. Vet Rec. 1994;134:60–64. doi: 10.1136/vr.134.3.60. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gorcyca D., Spiess D., Harris L., Schlesinger K., Chladek D., Morrison R.B., Schultz R. The effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus challenge in pregnant sows after subsequent exposure to virulent virus. 24th Annu. Meeting. American Association of Swine Practitioners; Missouri; 1993. pp. 51–52. [Google Scholar]
  15. Hill H.T., Swenson S.L., Zimmerman J. A comparison of the indirect fluorescent antibody test and the serum virus neutralization test for the detection of antibodies against PRRS virus. 24th Annu. Meeting, American Association of Swine Practitioners; Missouri; March 7–9, 1993. p. 717. [Google Scholar]
  16. Houben S., Callebaut P., Pensaert M.B. Comparative study of a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the immunoperoxidase monolayer assay for the detection of antibodies to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in pigs. J. Virol. Methods. 1995;51:125–128. doi: 10.1016/0166-0934(94)00135-4. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Iglesias J.G., Trujano M., Xu J. Inoculation of pigs with Streptococcus suis type 2 alone or in combination with pseudorabies virus. Am. J. Vet. Res. 1992;53:364–367. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Molitor T.W., Choi C.S., Leitner G., Risdahl J., Rossow K., Murtaugh M.P., Collins J.E. Immunomodulation of host immune responses following porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 1995 in press. [Google Scholar]
  19. Morrison R.B., Collins J.E., Harris L., Christianson W.T., Benfield D.A., Chladek D.W., Gorcyca D.E., Joo H.S. Serologic evidence incriminating a recently isolated virus (ATCC VR-2332) as the cause of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 1992;4:186–188. doi: 10.1177/104063879200400212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Nelson E.A., Christopher-Hennings J., Drew T., Wensvoort G., Collins J.E., Benfield D.A. Differentiation of U.S. and European isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by monoclonal antibodies. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1993;31:3184–3189. doi: 10.1128/jcm.31.12.3184-3189.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Nelson E.A., Christopher-Hennings J., Benfield D.A. Serum immune responses to the proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 1994;6:410–415. doi: 10.1177/104063879400600402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Pol J.M.A., van Dijk J.E., Wensvoort G., Terpstra C. Pathological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical changes caused by Lelystad virus in experimentally induced infections of mystery swine disease (synonym: porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome [PEARS]) Vet. Q. 1991;13:137–143. doi: 10.1080/01652176.1991.9694298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rossow K.D., Collins J.E., Goyal S.M., Nelson E.A., Christopher-Hennings J., Benfield D.A. Pathogenesis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in gnotobiotic pigs. Vet. Pathol. 1995;32:361–373. doi: 10.1177/030098589503200404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Solano G.J., Segales J., Collins J.E., Molitor T.W., Pijoan C. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) interaction with Haemophitus parasuis. Vet. Microbiol. 1997;55:247–257. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(96)01325-9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Van Reeth K., Koyen A., Pensaert M. Clinical effects of dual infections with porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine respiratory coroma virus and swine influenza virus. Proc. 13th IPVS; Bangkok, Thailand; 1994. p. 51. [Google Scholar]
  26. Vecht U., Wisselink H.J., Van Dijk J.E., Smith H.E. Virulence of Streptococcus suis type 2 strains in newborn germfree pigs depends on phenotype. Infect. Immun. 1992;60:550–556. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.2.550-556.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Voicu I.L., Silim A., Morin M., Elazhary M.A.S.Y. Interaction of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with swine monocytes. Vet. Rec. 1994;134:422–423. doi: 10.1136/vr.134.16.422. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Wensvoort G., de Kluyver E.P., Luijtze E.A. Antigenic comparison of Lelystad virus and swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS) virus. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 1992;4:134–138. doi: 10.1177/104063879200400203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Wensvoort G., Terpstra C., Pol J.M.A., Ter Laak E.A., Bloemraad M., De Kluyver E.P., Kragten C., Van Buiten L., Den Besten A., Wagenaar F., Broekhuijsen J.M., Moonen P.L.J.M., Zetstra T., De Boer E.A., Tibben H.J., De Jong M.F., Van 'T Veld P., Groenland G.J.R., Van Gennep J.A., Voets M.The., Verheijden J.H.M., Braamskamp J. Mystery swine disease in the Netherlands: The isolation of the Lelystad virus. Vet. Q. 1991;13:121–130. doi: 10.1080/01652176.1991.9694296. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Yoon I.J., Joo H.S., Christianson W.T., Kim H.S., Collins J.H., Morrison R.B., Dial G.D. An indirect fluorescent antibody test for the detection of antibody to swine infertility and respiratory syndrome virus in swine sera. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 1992;4:144–147. doi: 10.1177/104063879200400205. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Yoon I.J., Joo H.S., Goyal S.M., Molitor T.W. A modified serum neutralization test for the detection of antibodies to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in swine sera. J. Vet. Diag. Invest. 1994;6:289–297. doi: 10.1177/104063879400600326. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Yoon K.J., Zimmerman J.J., Swenson S.L., Wills R.W., Hill H.T., Platt K.B. Antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in pigs. Viral Immunol. 1996;9:51–63. doi: 10.1089/vim.1996.9.51. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Zeman D., Neiger R., Yaeger M., Nelson E., Benfield D., Leslie-Steen P., Thomson J., Miskimins D., Daly R., Minehart M. Laboratory investigation of PRRS virus infection in three swine herds. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 1993;5:522–528. doi: 10.1177/104063879300500404. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Veterinary Microbiology are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES