title: Serological evidence of type 2 (North American genotype) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Nepal.
abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has spread throughout Asia, causing significant losses to commercial farmers and smallholders. However, little is known about PRRS in Nepal, a South Asian country with a gradually increasing pig industry. In 2011, a pilot project was initiated to identify the status of PRRSV in pigs of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Out of 98 serum samples, 31 (32 %; 95 % CI 23-42 %) were found positive by ELISA. All positive samples belonged to the type 2 (North American) genotype. Molecular evaluation by real-time PCR however did not yield positive results. At the herd level, seropositivity was associated with a history of abortion and premature birth. Veterinarians, farmers and government should be aware of this threat to the Nepalese pig industry and initiate an appropriate response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.|Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Barun Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Salina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manandhar
authors.affiliation: Emerging Pathogens Institute and Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA. brechtdv@gmail.com.|Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. brechtdv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brecht
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2867-6892
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Devleesschauwer
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Diagnosis; Nepal; PRRS; Pigs; Risk factors