title: Comparative analysis of apoptotic changes in peripheral immune organs and lungs following experimental infection of piglets with highly pathogenic and classical porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our previous studies have demonstrated that piglets infected with highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) may develop significant thymus atrophy, which related to thymocytes apoptosis. However, apart from that detected in the thymus, there are no reports describing cell apoptosis induced by HP-PRRSV infection. In this study, we analyzed comparatively the pathological changes, cell apoptosis and viral load in peripheral immune organs including tonsil, inguinal lymph nodes (ILNs) and spleen and lungs following experimental infection of piglets with HP-PRRSV HuN4 and classical PRRSV CH-1a.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HP-PRRSV HuN4 exhibited much stronger cell tropism than CH-1a in immune organs and lungs of piglets. HuN4 infection led to the serious injuries in tonsils, ILNs, spleens and lungs, especially apoptosis in these organs was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HuN4 infection induced severe lesions (gross pathology, histopathology and cell apoptosis) in the peripheral immune organs and lungs of infected piglets. Large numbers of apoptotic cells in immune organs and lung induced by HuN4 may play a role in the pathogenesis of the HP-PRRS and the distinct injuries caused by HuN4 infection may be associated with the high mortality rate of HP-PRRS in pigs.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yabin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: En-Min
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chenggang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shujie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, 150001, PR China. cai139@hvri.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xuehui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D019562:Viral Load