PRCV Tge

PRCv is a coronavirus very closely related to TGE and causes cytopathic effects (damage) and syncytia (fused cells) in cell cultures. It can be isolated from the lungs of infected pigs. Antibody to it neutralises TGE virus and the syncytia fluoresce with sera specific to TGE but monoclonal antibodies to TGE virus exist which do not react with PRCv. The differences between TGE and PRCv result from a genetic change to the spike (S) protein (used in attachment) which changed the tissue infected from gut to lung and altered the antigenicity. Infection is by aerosol and the virus multiplies chiefly in the lungs.

Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus Tge