Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (4): 1079-1085.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.04.023

• BASIC VETERINARY MEDICINE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ultrastructural Changes in Renal Tissue of Piglets Infected with PRRSV

LUO Chuanzhen, ZHANG Yuchen, LOU Jiangcheng, LIU Xiaoli, GU Changqin, ZHANG Wanpo, CHENG Guofu, HU Xueying*   

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Received:2020-09-15 Online:2021-04-23 Published:2021-04-25

Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a disease that causes high piglet mortality and brings great economic loss to the pig industry. In this study, the localization and ultrastructure changes of virus in piglets’ kidney infected with PRRSV were observed to understand the effect of PRRSV on renal tissue cells and blood circulation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with serum biochemical test and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to observe and analyze the renal tissue of piglets infected with PRRSV. It was found that PRRSV infection caused renal tissue damage, and the virus was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of glomeruli, necrotic renal tubular epithelial cells and macrophages. Extensive fusion of podocyte processes or formation of microvilli and swelling of endothelial cells were found. The mitochondria in the renal tubules epithelial cells were swollen, cristae fractured and dissolved; In interstitial, inflammatory cell infiltrated. According to the observation results, PRRSV caused serious damage to the kidney, podocyte process fusion resulted in increased glomerular permeability and the injury of glomerular vascular endothelial cells leaded to microthrombus formation. These results indicated that PRRSV affected the glomerular filtration rate and blood circulation system of piglets. It provided a theoretical basis for elucidating the pathogenic mechanism of PRRSV infection.

Key words: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV), ultrastructure, kidney, electron microscopy (SEM)

CLC Number: