2.1 Clinical symptoms and specimen collection
A total of 136 black goats showing clinical signs of possible PRV
infection were included in this study. The clinical symptoms in these
goats were carefully observed and characterized. Splanchnic (including
lymphonodus, lung, kidney, and liver) and brain tissues from the dead
goats were collected for pathogenic diagnosis by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) or reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation. Meanwhile, 10 serum and 16 fecal
samples from fattening pigs in this farm were collected for the
detection of antibodies and pathogens, respectively. Additionally,
related information including feeding and housing of these goats was
surveyed and documented.