Demonstration of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in pigs in Northern Ireland by RT-PCR and virus isolation

Tissue specimens from pigs submitted for post mortem examination were investigated for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. Detection of viral genome RNA in the tissue specimens was performed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using oligonucleotide primers specific for open reading frame 7 of the PRRS virus genome. Virus isolation was performed in alveolar macrophages recovered from two-week-old piglets. A 312 bp specific amplicon corresponding to PRRS virus RNA was detected by electrophoresis in three of 10 samples; PRRS virus was isolated from three of 10 tissues specimens. This study reports for the first time the presence of PRRS virus in Northern Ireland.