The discovery of genetic markers may help to eliminate the blue ear pig virus

Blue ear disease in pigs (reproductive and respiratory disorders syndrome) caused by PRRS virus. The virus damages the US pork industry by more than $ 600 million a year. Research results from Kansas State University scientists help improve animal health, and save the US pork industry millions of dollars each year.

Raymond Rowland, a virologist, a professor of diagnostic and pathological medicine with Jack Dekkers Rowland researchers from Iowa State University and Joan Lunney from the Agricultural Research Department, discovered a genetic marker that helps identify pigs are sensitive to respiratory and reproductive disorders syndrome.

Researchers have noted, many indicators related to growth, weight, pig yield and virus density over time, from more than 2,000 pigs since 2007 and determine the difference in numbers. 60,000 genes to detect QTL. The only goal of this study is to look for genes that can provide long-term resistance to many infections. This is very important for animal health, because there are many diseases that have no cure and no vaccine.

"This discovery is what you call the first of the first , " Rowland said. "This is the first genetic marker on PRRSV and also the first for any animal infection. I have been working in this field for 20 years and this is one of the biggest advances I have made. have seen " . This discovery is the first step in controlling and eliminating viruses.

The result has a tremendous role in animal health research including the basic biological relationship between a host and a pathogen, vaccine production, and can be applied directly to with people.