Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a widespread viral disease that affects domestic pigs. Symptoms include reproductive failure, pneumonia and increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection. The clinical signs vary depending on the age of pig infected; breeding age pigs are more commonly impacted with the reproductive syndrome, and piglets and young pigs are affected by the respiratory syndrome. It has a significant economic impact, with an annual cost of $560 million in the United States alone.

Vaccination is essential for effective PRRS control and while there are PRRS vaccines available and widely used, they do not provide sufficient protection against the various strains in circulation.