Isolation and serological characterization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) viruses from pigs with reproductive and respiratory disorders in Japan.

Three porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) were successfully isolated from stillborn piglets and fattening pigs derived from different herds affected either with an epizootic reproductive failure or a severe chronic respiratory distress in Japan. The isolates were reacted with antisera against both European (Lelystad virus) and American (strain 46448) PRRSVs in indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). However, cross immunoperoxidase monolayer assay revealed the close serological relationships between the Japanese isolates and American PRRSV, but not between the Japanese isolates and the European PRRSV. The data of preliminary serological survey with IIF technique showed a high frequency of antibody positive pigs against both Japanese isolate and the American PRRSV, whereas a low frequency of antibody positive pigs against the European PRRSV, on herds which have had clinical episodes of PRRS-like diseases. These results indicate that PRRSVs are prevalent in Japan, and suggest that the antigenicities of the prevalent PRRSVs are more closely related to those of the American than the European PRRSVs.