Association of porcine interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) gene alleles with the development of high or low interferon-γ response to PRRS virus

摘要

PRRS is an important disease of pigs in the US and around the world. Many experts including statements made by the National Pork Board suggest that it is the most economically significant disease in the pork industry today. Our studies have suggestedthat a weak cellular immune response to immunization with this virus could be at least partially responsible for the repeated failures and difficulties encountered when vaccination strategies are used to control PRRS. The identification and selective breeding of swine capable of mounting a strong cell-mediated immune response to this virus would be a novel control strategy against this disease. A genetic marker for this trait would likely have a significant impact on the efforts of swine veterinarians to control this disease and thus would be of considerable economic value.