title: [Correlation between antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and pathological-anatomical organ findings in slaughter pigs at farm level].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) worldwide causes important economic losses in pig production. Its causative agent, the PRRS virus (PRRSV), is one of the most frequently detected infectious agents in relation to respiratory diseases in pigs in Austria. We investigated the correlation between the PRRSV status of pig farms, determined by detection of PRRSV antibodies in the serum of slaughter pigs, and the prevalence of pathological-anatomical lung lesions in slaughter pigs of the respective farms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 1, 2011 and April 16, 2012, a total of 1056 serum samples of slaughter pigs from 66 pig farms were collected at an Austrian abattoir. The presence of PRRSV antibodies was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each sample and the PRRSV status of the respective farms was determined. No PRRSV vaccination was performed on any of the farms. In addition, the pathological-anatomical lung lesions of all slaughter pigs of the 66 farms that were slaughtered between September 1, 2011 and December 11, 2012 were recorded by authorized veterinarians at the abattoir. The prevalence of lung lesions and pleuritis in PRRSV-positive and unsuspected farms was compared and statistically interpreted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slaughter pigs of PRRSV positive farms had a significantly higher prevalence of severe lung lesions and pleuritis visceralis and parietalis than slaughter pigs of PRRSV unsuspected farms. Pigs of combined farms (nursery and fattening unit at the same location) displayed a tendency for more moderate and severe lung lesions than pigs of exclusive fattening farms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the PRRSV status of pig farms displayed a significant influence on the prevalence of lung lesions in the slaughter pigs. Findings untypical for PRRS, including pleuritis, were also found significantly more often on those farms. This leads to the conclusion that other primary and/or secondary infections are involved, which can be exacerbated by the immunosuppressive effect of the PRRSV. There was a tendency for combined farms to be more severely affected than fattening farms.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grünberger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleicher
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Stüger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reisp
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmoll
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köfer
authors.affiliation: Dr. Tatjana Sattler, Dipl. ECPHM, Medizinische Tierklinik, der Universität Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 11, 04103 Leipzig, Deutschland, E-Mail: tasat@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sattler
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: ELISA; Fattener; lung lesions; pleuritis; pneumonia; prevalence