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Genotype 2 strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV-2) have been reported sporadically in Europe. Even if, PRRSV-2 reported to be genetically homogenous in Europe due to the introduction of an MLV vaccine strain, independent introductions of PRRSV-2 field strains have been reported. The aim of the present study was to report the complete genome sequence and evaluate the histopathological lesions of a PRRSV-2 strain, isolated for the first time in Greece. During a routine blood sampling in a commercial pig farm, the results revealed positive samples in weaners of 40-60 days for the PRRSV-2, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The clinical picture was characterized from respiratory symptoms in weaners, as well as coughing and poor performance at finishing stage and less than 3% mortality rate from weaning stage to finishing stage. The use of ORF5 for PRRSV phylogenetic analysis of the isolated PRRSV strain, named "x1544-1 strain", was successfully determined, belonging to the genotype PRRSV-2. Comparison of the obtained sequence revealed nucleotide sequence identity >98% with PRRSV-2 strain VR2332 and other related strains from Denmark and China. The histopathological evaluation revealed diffuse interstitial pneumonia, multifocal interstitial nephritis, while in the lymphoid organs, follicular and paracortical hyperplasia, coexisting with necrosis and depletion of germ cells were detected. The results of current study undersign the importance for veterinary practitioners to have up-to-date access to phylogenetic data linked to phenotypic information to follow-up the control and prevention strategies against PRRSV.

Respiratory infections are among the most important diseases of growing pigs. In order to elucidate the multifactorial aetiology of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in Denmark, lungs from 148 finishing pigs with cranioventral bronchopneumonia (case group) and 60 pigs without lung lesions (control group) were collected from abattoirs. The pathogens involved in PRDC and their interactions were identified and linked to the histopathological diagnosis. The lung samples were cultured for bacteria and tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for presence of swine influenza virus (type A), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (both European and US type), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine respiratory coronavirus, porcine cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis. All cases had cranioventral lobular bronchopneumonia consistent with PRDC. There was a broad range of microscopical lesions and the cases were characterized as acute (n=10), subacute (n=24) or chronic (n=114) bronchopneumonia. Five bacterial species, five viruses and two Mycoplasma spp. were detected in different combinations. PCV2, M. hyopneumoniae, M. hyorhinis and Pasteurella multocida were detected most frequently among the PRDC affected swine and the diversity and number of pathogens were higher in these animals compared with controls. No clear-cut associations were detected between pathogens and histological lesions or histopathological diagnoses. PRDC occurs more frequently than enzootic pneumonia among Danish finishing pigs and has complex and varied histopathology., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Following intranasal inoculation of three groups of pregnant swine (in total 11 dams) with a Danish isolate of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on or about day 85, 70 and 45 of gestation, respectively, reproductive disturbances were observed in the first two groups. Transplacental transmission of PRRSV occurred in four out of five litters from dams inoculated around day 85 of gestation and in two out of three litters from dams inoculated on day 72 of gestation. In the third group, inoculated around day 45 of gestation, transplacental infection could not be demonstrated. Thirty-two (56%) piglets from dams inoculated on day 85 of gestation and 14 (33%) piglets from dams inoculated on day 72 of gestation, were transplacentally infected. Sixteen (28%) and six (14%) piglets, respectively, in these groups became infected in the perinatal period. Thirty-two (56%) piglets from dams inoculated on day 85 of gestation were stillborn or died within a 6-8 weeks observation period, 29 being stillborn or dying within the first two weeks of observation. Thirteen (30%) piglets from dams inoculated on day 72 of gestation died within the two weeks observation period. The duration of the viraemic phase varied considerably, from one day to four weeks, for both dams and their offspring. Most frequently, PRRSV was isolated from lung and/or tonsil tissues from dead and euthanized piglets younger than 14 days of age. Histopathological investigations of piglets typically revealed focal nonsuppurative inflammatory conditions, especially in the lung and heart. In conclusion, the present results support the hypothesis, that PRRSV infection of dams late in pregnancy has the greatest likelihood of transplacental infection of fetuses.