Impact of a modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus vaccine intervention on a population of pigs infected with a heterologous isolate

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of a therapeutic vaccine intervention with a modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine on the dynamics of a heterologous viral infection in a population of pigs, and to determine the clinical and virological response of previously exposed and vaccinated pigs against a second virulent heterologous challenge. A population of 320 pigs were infected with a field isolate, PRRSV MN-30100, alone or followed by Ingelvac^® PRRS MLV vaccine administered one to three times at 30 days intervals beginning 1 week after infection. Vaccine intervention reduced the duration of viral shedding, but did not reduce the viral load in tissues or the proportion of persistently infected pigs. A different and highly virulent field isolate, MN-184, was then given as a heterologous viral challenge at 97 days after first exposure. Previously infected and vaccinated pigs showed a significant reduction in clinical signs and enhanced weight gain after the highly virulent challenge with PRRSV MN-184, but infection with and shedding of the challenge isolate were not prevented.