Genetic and phenotypic characterization of a 2006 United States porcine reproductive and respiratory virus isolate associated with high morbidity and mortality in the field

► PRRSV NC16845b was characterized in vitro and compared to other PRRSV isolates. ► NC16845b contained a continuous 8 amino acid deletion in the nsp2 region. ► NC16845b exhibited slower in vitro growth properties compared to others.