Pathogenesis of a novel porcine parainfluenza virus type 1 isolate in conventional and colostrum deprived/caesarean derived pigs

Abstract

Two experimental challenge studies were conducted to evaluate the pathogenesis of a porcine parainfluenza virus type 1 (PPIV-1) isolate. Four-week-old conventional (CON) pigs were challenged in Study 1 and six-week-old caesarean derived/colostrum deprived (CDCD) pigs were challenged in Study 2. Results indicate that PPIV-1 shedding and replication occur in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of CON and CDCD pigs as detected by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Mild macroscopic lung lesions were observed in CON pigs but not in CDCD pigs. Microscopic lung lesions were mild and consisted of peribronchiolar lymphocytic cuffing and epithelial proliferation in CON and CDCD pigs. Serum neutralizing antibodies were detected in the CON and CDCD pigs by 14 and 7 days post inoculation, respectively. This study provides evidence that in spite of PPIV-1 infection and replication in challenged swine, significant clinical respiratory disease was not observed.

Keywords: Parainfluenza; Pathogenesis; Porcine parainfluenza virus type 1; Swine.