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Introduction: Existing strategies to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) are not completely effective and require alternative approaches. Although intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses are more resilient to transplacental PRRS virus-2 (PRRSV2) infection compared to normal fetuses, the exact mechanisms are unknown. The objective of this research was to assess abundance and localization of a subset of tight junction (TJ) proteins in the maternal-fetal interface and any alterations that may affect the movement of nutrients or PRRSV2 across the epitheliochorial placenta.Methods: Paraffin-embedded samples of placenta from non-infected control (CTRL) and PRRSV2 infected fetuses (IUGR, non(N)-IUGR, meconium-stained (MEC) (n = 6 per group) were randomly selected from a large challenge trial and immunostained for claudins (CLDN) 1, 3, 4, 7 and tight junction protein 1 (TJP1). Immunostaining intensity was semi-subjectively scored by region.Results: Intensity of CLDN1 was lower in placenta of IUGR, MEC, and N-IUGR fetuses compared to CTRL, mainly in fetal epithelium and maternal endothelial cells (MECL). CLDN4 intensity was lower in MECL of IUGR compared to CTRL and MEC fetuses. TJP1 intensity was lower in maternal and fetal epithelia of placenta within IUGR, MEC, and N-IUGR fetuses versus CTRL.Discussion: Differences were mainly observed between PRRSV2 infected and non-infected groups indicating TJ integrity was affected by PRRSV2 infection. These results provide insights into the potential mechanisms of transplacental transmission of PRRSV2; however, since only CLDN4 differed amongst the infected groups, PRRSV2 induced changes in TJ integrity do not appear to explain variation in fetal outcomes after infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on a novel coronavirus which might be related to acute respiratory syndrome in alpacas from California. It was in 2007 when the alpaca respiratory syndrome (ARS) was recognized in California, having such symptoms as occasional sudden death, high fever, and acute respiratory signs. The recovery of a novel coronavirus from a lung tissue is also noted.

The article discusses a study which described the detection and molecular characterization of gene 3 and 5 of turkey coronavirus (TCoV) from turkeys with severe enteritis in Brazil. The researchers monitored the presence of turkey coronavirus (TCoV) in several intestinal-content samples from turkey flocks, aged between 10 and 104 days and exhibiting severe enteritis, from 2004 until 2006. The detection of TCoV was achieved by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction through the amplification of the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) which was followed by amplification of genes 3 and 5. Results showed a greater relationship with chicken infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in relation to gene 3 and gene 5 showed greater identity with pheasant coronavirus (PhCoV).

A correction to the article "Development of realtime reverse transcription PCR assay for detection of a novel nidovirus associated with a neurological disease of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)" that was published in the Volume 61 of 2013 issue is presented.