Abstract
Genomic approaches have expanded our understanding of genes and gene pathways and quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling traits of economic importance in pig production, recently including health traits and disease resistance. Efforts are under way to use novel tools including pig gene arrays, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) chips, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and advanced bioinformatics to find new candidate genes and biological pathways associated with host resistance, viral disease processes and mechanisms, and biomarkers that account for control of responses to viral pathogens and vaccine efficacy in targeted pig populations. This chapter focuses on the advances made on using genomic approaches to define swine resistance to viral pathogens, particularly for the most economically important viruses, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus (PCV). These studies will have substantial impact for the pig industry: it is now possible to include the use of biomarkers for basic health traits alongside a broader set of markers utilized for selection of pigs for improved performance and reproductive traits, as well as for pork quality.