TUNEL assay in the uterine-fetal placental tissues from PRRSV-infected pregnant gilts.

<p>(A) Focal area of apoptosis (arrow) affecting both the trophoblast and uterine epithelial cells at the uterus-fetal placenta interface from PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt. (B) Multiple apoptotic cells (arrows) closely associated with the area of microseparation between chorioallantois and uterus (asterisk) from PRRSV-infected gilt. (C) Apoptotic uterine luminal epithelial and trophoblastic cells in the area of severe separation of the chorioallantois from the uterus (arrow). (D) Single cell apoptosis of inflammatory cells in the endometrium (arrow); endometrial artery with the apoptotic endothelial cell (arrowhead).</p

Mean numbers of TUNEL (apoptotic) positive cells per 1 mm² of the endometrium and maternal-fetal interface.

<p>Superscript letters (^{a, b, c} or ^{d, e, f}) indicate significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05) between PRRSV viral load groups. Error bars represent standard deviation.</p

PGM1 PRRS histopathological grading data

Excel File contains histopathological grading data for distribution, and severity of vasculitis, endometrial inflammation score in the uterine tissues associated with 679 fetuses, qRT-PCR PRRS virus RNA concentration values in the uterine tissues and fetal thymuses, number of fetal and umbilical histopathological lesions and fetal preservation status of 679 fetuses. Also file contains explanation of histological grading schemes used for assessment in this study

Numbers of fetal tissues with histopathological lesions in type 2 PRRSV-infected and negative control pregnant gilts inoculated at gestation day 85 (± 1d).

<p>Numbers of fetal tissues with histopathological lesions in type 2 PRRSV-infected and negative control pregnant gilts inoculated at gestation day 85 (± 1d).</p

Relationship between endometrial inflammation and distribution of vasculitis.

<p>Endometrial inflammation severity is indicated by 4 coloured lines: minimal (green) = inflammatory cells multifocally present in < 10% of the tissue section; mild (blue) = multifocal to coalescing inflammatory cells infiltrate in 10–25% of the tissue; moderate (red) = diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrate in 25–50% of the tissue; severe (black) = inflammatory cells diffusely present in >50% of the tissue section. Results indicate the probability of observing severe endometrial inflammation at 21 dpi increases with more extensive vasculitis distribution.</p

Histologic scores of endometrial inflammation and severity of vasculitis.

<p>(a) Uterus, endometrium, lamina propria; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE). Minimal lymphohistiocytic endometritis (grade 1.). (b) Uterus, endometrium, lamina propria; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Mild lymphohistiocytic endometritis (grade 2.). (c) Uterus, endometrium, lamina propria; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Moderate lymphohistiocytic endometritis (grade 3.). (d) Uterus, endometrium, lamina propria; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Severe lymphohistiocytic endometritis (grade 4.) (Scale bar = 200 μm). (e) Uterus, endometrium, blood vessel; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Lymphocytic vasculitis (severity grade 1.) (arrow). (f) Uterus, endometrium, blood vessel; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Lymphocytic vasculitis with vacuolar degeneration of the cells in the <i>tunica intima</i> (severity grade 2.) (arrowhead). (g) Uterus, endometrium, blood vessel; PRRSV-infected pregnant gilt; HE. Severe lymphocytic vasculitis with necrosis (severity grade 3.) (asterisk) (Scale bar = 200 μm).</p

Relationship between endometrial inflammation and PRRSV RNA concentration (log₁₀/gram) in fetal thymus.

<p>Endometrial inflammation severity is indicated by 4 coloured lines: minimal (green) = inflammatory cells multifocally present in < 10% of the tissue section; mild (blue) = multifocal to coalescing inflammatory cells infiltrate in 10–25% of the tissue; moderate (red) = diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrate in 25–50% of the tissue; severe (black) = inflammatory cells diffusely present in >50% of the tissue section. Results indicate increased viral load in fetal thymus is associated with decreased probability of moderate and severe endometrial inflammation observed at 21 dpi.</p

Numbers of uterine tissue sections scored for endometrial inflammation, distribution of vasculitis and severity of vasculitis distribution.

<p>Numbers of uterine tissue sections scored for endometrial inflammation, distribution of vasculitis and severity of vasculitis distribution.</p

Relationship between endometrial inflammation and severity of vasculitis.

<p>Endometrial inflammation severity is indicated by 4 coloured lines: minimal (green) = inflammatory cells multifocally present in < 10% of the tissue section; mild (blue) = multifocal to coalescing inflammatory cells infiltrate in 10–25% of the tissue; moderate (red) = diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrate in 25–50% of the tissue; severe (black) = inflammatory cells diffusely present in >50% of the tissue section. Results indicate the probability of observing severe endometrial inflammation at 21 dpi increases with vasculitis severity.</p

Number of uterine and placental tissues demonstrating histopathological lesions in type 2 PRRSV-infected and negative control pregnant gilts inoculated at gestation day 85 (± 1d).

<p>Number of uterine and placental tissues demonstrating histopathological lesions in type 2 PRRSV-infected and negative control pregnant gilts inoculated at gestation day 85 (± 1d).</p