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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #77809
Title: PORCINE INTERFERON-GAMMA LEVELS IN SERUM AFTER INFECTION WITH SALMONELLA CHOLERAESUIS AND PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS

Author
item STABEL, THOMAS
item CRAY, PAULA
item GRAY, J - UNIV OSTEOPATH MED HLTH
item WILLS, R - UNIV OF NEBRASKA
item YOON, K - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item ZIMMERMAN, J - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The identification of Salmonella choleraesuis and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus as two important causes of swine respiratory disease has occurred only recently. Field data suggests that infection with PRRS virus exacerbates infection with other pathogens. Experimental data indicates a detrimental synergism between PRRS virus, S. choleraesuis, and dexamethasone (Dex). Production of interferon-gamma (IFN) can be a good indication of T-cell stimulation. We evaluated the effects of PRRS, S. choleraesuis, and Dex administration on serum levels of IFN. Results indicate that Dex, Salmonella, and PRRS treatments are each capable of lowering IFN levels in the blood and injection of Dex following either a Salmonella or PRRS infection has a synergistic effect. Interestingly, the combination of Salmonella and PRRS together does not induce any synergistic effect on IFN levels nor does the triple combination of Salmonella, PRRS, and Dex cause any further synergism than already observed between Dex and either Salmonella or PRRS. Low levels of IFN secretion after exposure to Salmonella and subsequent injection with Dex may provide a more favorable environment for opportunistic PRRS virus. Salmonella infected pigs once stressed may be sufficiently immunosuppressed and thus more susceptible to PRRS virus infection.