Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is one of the serious infectious diseases that threatens the swine industry. Increasing evidence shows that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating host immune responses to PRRS virus (PRRSV). The aim of this study was to investigate gut microbiota difference between PRRSV-resistant pigs and PRRSV-suspectable pigs derived from a Tongcheng pigs and Large White pigs crossed population. PRRSV infection induces an increase in the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota. Correlation analysis showed that 36 genera were correlated with viral loads or weight gain after PRRSV infection. Prevotellaceae-NK3B31-group, Christensenellaceae-R7-group, and Parabacteroides were highly correlated with both viral load and weight gain. Notably, the diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Prevotellaceae-NK3B31-group was high in resistant pigs, and the diversity and abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacter and Desulfovibrio were high in susceptible pigs. Gut microbiota were significantly associated with immune function and growth performance, suggesting that these genera might be related to viremia, clinical symptoms, and disease resistance. Altogether, this study revealed the correlation of gut microbiota with PRRSV infection and gut microbiota interventions may provide an effective prevention against PRRSV infection.
Keywords: 16S RNA; PRRSV; gut microbiota; resistant pigs; susceptible pigs.