USE OF POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TO DETECT PORCINE PARVOVIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH SWINE EMBRYOS

The role of porcine parvovirus (PPV) in inducing reproductive failure in swine has been extensively documented. However, information is not available as to the risk of PPV transmission by embryo transfer. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, PPV-specific DNA was d etected in association with 4-day-old porcine embryos incubated in vit ro in the presence of NADL-8 strain of PPV, despite attempts to rid th e embryos of virus by either washing or treatment with pronase or tryp sin. The presence of PPV in embryos collected from acutely infected sw ine was not detected by PCR, although PPV DNA was detected in the prox imal portion of the reproductive tract during the early stages of infe ction. Viral specific nucleic acid was not detected in embryos transfe rred from infected donors to seronegative recipients and retrieved and assayed on the 15th and 32nd days of gestation. Results of the use of PCR to detect PPV associated with swine female reproductive tract and embryos ascribe minimal risk to the transmission of PPV to seronegati ve recipients through embryo transfer.