猪输血传播病毒(TTV)与猪圆环病毒混合感染的检测及TTV遗传变异分析

为了解我国猪群中猪输血传播病毒(TTV)与猪圆环病毒(PCV)混合感染情况,本研究采用PCR方法对采自14个省280份病料样品进行检测,结果显示,TTV1和TTV2阳性检出率分别为51.8%和28.2%,TTV1与TTV2混合感染率为18.2%;PCV1和PCV2阳性率分别为41.1%和37.5%,PCV1与PCV2混合感染率为19.6%;PCV2阳性样品中TTV1和TTV2混合感染率达75.0%。此外,对2株TTV1基因组进行测序,与GenBank中登录的6个TTV1序列比对,相似性结果为67.3%～95.1%;对4株TTV2基因组测序,与GenBank登录的4条TTV2序列比对,相似性为84.7%～90.4%;将TTV1与TTV2进行序列比对,相似性仅为44.0%。TTV1和TTV2基因高变区分别位于520 nt～2 594 nt和720 nt～2 170 nt;TTV1基因保守区位于1 nt～520 nt和2 595 nt～2 800 nt;而TTV2基因保守区位于1 nt～719 nt和2 171 nt～2 800 nt。以上结果表明,我国猪群中存在TTV与PCV2的混合感染,并且两种病毒混合感染引起...     

猪圆环病毒2型和3型混合感染引起的母猪繁殖障碍诊治

【目的】寻找引起某猪场母猪屡次配种不孕的原因。【方法】采集母猪饲料槽中正在食用的饲料检测黄曲霉素B₁含量;采集返情母猪的口鼻腔拭子、肛门拭子及血清,使用PCR、RT-PCR方法检测猪圆环病毒2型(Porcine circovirus 2,PCV2)、PCV3、猪伪狂犬病病毒(Pseudorabies virus,PRV)、猪细小病毒(Porcine parvovirus,PPV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)、猪瘟病毒(Classic swine fever virus,CSFV);随机剖检13头返情母猪,采集脾脏、淋巴结、脊髓、子宫、卵巢组织检测繁殖障碍性病毒的感染情况;对检测到的PCV2和PCV3部分阳性样品进行ORF2基因序列分析;观察母猪卵巢病理变化情况,汇总分析结果,诊断该场母猪受胎率低、持续返情的原因。【结果】该猪场饲料中黄曲霉素B₁含量为4.5~9.0 μg/kg,均在GB 13078－2017规定的饲料中黄曲霉素B₁允许范围内(＜20 μg/kg)。PCR、RT-PCR结果显示,口鼻腔拭子、肛门拭子和血清的PCV2、PCV3、PRV、PPV、PRRSV、CSFV检测结果均为阴性;13头母猪的PCV2阳性率为69.23%(9/13),PCV3阳性率为38.46%(5/13),PCV2和PCV3混合感染率为30.76%(4/13)。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,PCV2在脊髓中的病毒载量最高,脾脏次之,淋巴结中最少;PCV3在脾脏中病毒载量最高,脊髓次之,卵巢中病毒载量最少。ORF2基因序列分析发现,PCV2为2d亚型,PCV3为3a亚型。卵巢病理切片观察发现,卵泡细胞数量减少,卵泡腔形状不规则、塌陷扁平。【结论】经过诊断确定该场母猪持续返情、屡配不孕的原因是PCV2和PCV3混合感染,进而引起繁殖障碍。根据诊断结果和该场情况,采取全群接种PCV2疫苗,配合全场消毒,加强生物安全防控,成功解决该场母猪繁殖障碍问题,恢复正常生产。     

猪细环病毒的检测及与多种病原混合感染的调查分析

为了解细环病毒(Torque teno virus,TTV)在广西猪群中的感染情况,本研究运用Nest-PCR方法,对2009—2011年采自广西140个规模猪场的156份血液、流产胎儿及肺脏、脾脏、肾脏、肝脏、淋巴结等组织样品进行检测,并对阳性样品的非编码区(UTR)进行克隆测序及遗传进化分析;同时对部分样品进行猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、典型猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)检测及细菌的分离鉴定。结果发现,广西猪群中TTV总感染率达到93.6%,TTV2的感染率(76.9%)不仅明显高于TTV1(16.7%),且毒株间遗传变异较大。TTV多与PCV2和PRRSV混合感染,且以与PRRSV混合感染率更高(64.29%)。猪群中存在2重、3重,甚至4重TTV与其他病毒的混合感染。临床上TTV与细菌的混合感染(或细菌继发感染)以链球菌和副猪嗜血杆菌多见。本研究证实在广西猪群中存在TTV感染,且存在普遍的TTV与PRRSV、PCV2和CSFV混合感染。     

2010年国内部分省份猪场常见病毒性疾病的病原学调查

随着规模化养猪业的发展,传染性疾病越来越多,混合感染或多重感染十分普遍,给疾病的诊断和预防带来很大困难。本文将我们实验室2010年分别采自福建、广西、河南、上海、内蒙、浙江、江苏和山西等地发病猪场的185份病料,通过RT-PCR和PCR方法对其进行猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV）、猪繁殖障碍的猪瘟病毒（Classical swine fever virus,CSFV）、猪圆环病毒2（Porcine circovirus type 2,PCV2）、猪细小病毒（Porcine parvovirus,PPV）、猪伪狂犬病毒（Pseudorabies virus,PRV）、细环病毒2（Torque teno virus 2,TTV2）等病毒检测。结果表明在所检的病料中PRRSV、PCV2和TTV2的阳性率比较高,分别为49.2%、62.2%和95.1%。有些地方TTV2的阳性率高达100%;同时,还存在很普遍的PRRSV与PCV2、PRRSV与TTV2、PCV2与TTV2等混合感染,混合感染率分别为27.6%、45.4%、58.4%;以及PRRSV、PCV2与TTV2的三重感染率为24.9%。同时对部分PRRSV阳性病料的PRRSV GP5和nsp2基因分别进行测序,分析测序结果表明病料中的PRRSV的GP5和nsp2序列与PRRSV HuN4株的相应序列的亲缘关系分别在98.2%和96.2%以上,且在nsp2区域都存在30个不连续氨基酸的缺失,说明现在临床中所流行的PRRSV可能仍是与高致病性PRRSV基因型相似的病毒。通过本文可以及时了解当前养猪场的病毒性疾病的流行情况,为猪场病毒性疾病的防控提供依据。     

广西猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒感染状况调查

采用RT-PCR技术,对2004年1月至2005年4月期间,广西13个市104个疑似猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)感染猪场,无菌采取231头病、死猪的组织病料(肺脏、淋巴结、脾脏)进行了病毒检测。同时,对鉴定为PRRSV阳性的组织病料和猪场进行了猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)和猪伪狂犬病毒(PRV)的检测,以确定猪群中PRRSV与PCV2、CSFV和PRV混合感染情况。结果从12个市的115份组织病料中检出PRRSV,病料的平均阳性率为49.78%(115/231),猪场的平均阳性率为61.54%(64/104),不同地市有一定的差异。PRRSV与PCV2、CSFV和/或PRV二重或多重混和感染的组织病料总数为53份,猪场总数为39个,混合感染的组织病料和猪场的总阳性率分别为22.94%(53/231)和37.50%(39/104)。混合感染的组织病料占PRRSV阳性组织病料的46.09%(53/115),混合感染的猪场占PRRSV阳性猪场的60.94%(39/64)。其中以PCV2和PRRSV混合感染的组织病料和猪场数最多。由此可见,PRRSV感染在广西猪场已普遍存在,与其他病毒混合感染现象逐渐趋向复杂化。     

PCR detection and characterization of type-2 porcine circovirus.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detecting porcine circovirus (PCV). The assay readily detected type-2 PCV (PCV-2) and type-1 PCV (PCV-1). The PCR primers were designed based on DNA sequences conserved in all reported PCV genomes. Type 1 PCV and type 2 PCV both produced 438 bp amplification products, which were easily identified and differentiated from one another by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Porcine circovirus was detected in 55% (931/1693) of randomly tested pigs with various clinical signs and lesions, most of which were difficult to differentiate from those associated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The PCR products from all positive clinical samples were identified by RFLP to be only PCV-2; DNA tested by PCR was extracted directly from one or more of lung, mesenteric or mediastinal lymph nodes, and tonsil. Type 2 PCV was also detected in 6% (2/34) of DNA extracted directly from semen of randomly chosen healthy boars. Positive PCR reactions from 554 diseased pigs were characterized by RFLP and categorized into 5 different profiles (A-E), of which 82.8% were PCV-2A (456/554), 3.0% were PCV-2B (17/554), 9.9% were PCV-2C (55/554), 1.1% were PCV-2D (6/554), and 3.2% were PCV-2E (18/554). The complete genomic nucleotide sequences of PCV-2A, B, C, D, and E were determined and found to have at least 95% homology compared with one another and with all other PCV-2 found in the GenBank database. All PCV-2 had less than 76% homology with PCV-1. This PCR assay will hopefully be useful to veterinary diagnostic laboratories for routine testing and surveillance of infection with PCV-2. The RFLP profiling system might be useful for preliminary characterization and identification of PCV isolates and might also benefit studies on the molecular epidemiology of PCV.     

2018年广西重要猪源病毒性疫病流行病学调查

为了解2018年广西猪群重要疫病流行情况,试验采集广西各地的病死猪组织样品及病猪腹泻拭子,应用多重实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测猪瘟病毒（CSFV）、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）,应用多重实时荧光定量PCR检测猪伪狂犬病病毒（PRV）、猪圆环病毒1型（PCV1）、猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）及猪圆环病毒3型（PCV3）,应用多重RT-PCR检测猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）、猪德尔塔冠状病毒（PDCoV）、猪传染性胃肠炎病毒（TGEV）和猪轮状病毒（PRoV）。结果显示,所检测的694份组织样品中,CSFV、PRRSV、HP-PRRSV、PRV、PCV1、PCV2、PCV3的阳性率分别为11.10%、18.88%、7.20%、5.19%、2.45%、67.00%和5.76%;2种病原混合感染率为41.21%,3种病原混合感染率为4.32%,其中PRRSV和PCV2混合感染率最高。所检测的792份肠内容物及拭子腹泻样品中,PEDV、PDCoV、TGEV、PRoV的阳性率分别为9.72%、5.81%、1.77%和6.31%;2种病原混合感染率为5.30%,其中PEDV和PRoV混合感染率最高。结果表明,当前多种重要病毒性疫病仍在广西猪群发生和流行,并且多重感染普遍存在,应进一步加强监测和防控。     

广西规模猪场猪呼吸道疾病综合征的病原学调查

为了解猪呼吸道疾病综合征(PRDC)在广西规模场猪群中的感染状况,采用PCR和RT-PCR方法,对2007～2009年期间采自广西13个市65个规模猪场的281份疑似PRDC感染组织样品进行了12种病原体检测。结果显示:73.85%(48/65)的猪场和71.87%(202/281)的组织样品为PRDC感染,其中,被猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、猪链球菌(SS)、猪伪狂犬病毒(PRV)、败血性波氏杆菌(Bb)、猪附红细胞体(E-su is)、猪流感病毒(SIV)、产毒素多杀性巴氏杆菌(T+PM)、副猪嗜血杆菌(HP)、猪细小病毒(PPV)和猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(APP)感染(包括混合感染)的阳性样品分别占49.11%(138/281)、34.52%(97/281)、9.60%(27/281)、8.19%(23/281)、6.41%(18/281)、6.41%(18/281)、6.05%(17/281)、6.14%(15/281)、4.63%(13/281)、3.91%(11/281)、0.36%(1/281)和0.00%(0/281);单纯感染占28.11%(79/281);混和感染占43.77%(123/281)。二重、三重和四重混合感染分别占28.11%(79/281)、12.46%(35/281)和3.20%(9/281)。其中,以PRRSV+PCV2(+其他)混合感染形式较多见,占所有混合感染样品的52.03%(64/123)。细菌性病原体感染样品占20.28%(57/281),其中19.22%(54/281)为混合感染。可见:广西地区规模猪场普遍存在PRDC感染,其中PRRSV和PCV2是引起PRDC的主要病原;感染类型复杂多样,以PRRSV+PCV2(+其他)混合感染最为常见。     

猪圆环病毒2型TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

本研究以猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)核衣壳蛋白ORF2基因为目的基因,设计合成特异性引物和探针。PCR扩增得到目的基因,并克隆到pMD18-T载体,筛选得到标准阳性质粒。通过对荧光定量PCR反应条件的优化,建立了PCV2的TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。试验结果表明,该方法特异性强,对猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)等猪常见病原的检测结果均为阴性;与普通PCR方法相比,其敏感性高出100倍,可达100拷贝/μL;对临床样品的检测证明,该方法可有效检测出淋巴结、肺脏等组织中的PCV2。     

PCV2-DNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded lymph nodes of wild boar (Sus scrofa ssp. scrofa): one sampling approach for two laboratory techniques

Superficial inguinal lymph nodes from 72 wild boars examined in a previous immunohistochemical (IHC) study on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were selected for a PCV2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Four of these lymph nodes were PCV2-IHC strongly positive with PMWS histological lesions (outcome 1), 6 weak to mild PCV2-IHC positive without PMWS histological lesions (outcome 2) and 62 PCV2-IHC negative. Considering IHC the gold standard for diagnosis, the aims of the study were to evaluate the suitability of the PCV2-DNA extraction from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and the sensitivity and specificity of PCR under two IHC interpretations criteria: (A) the sample was considered positive if the result was outcome 1; (B) the sample was considered positive if the result was outcome 1 or 2. Under (A) criteria, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 100% and 89.7%, respectively; the Cohen''s Kappa coefficient was 0.49. Under (B) criteria, sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 80.0% and 95.2%, respectively; the Cohen''s Kappa coefficient was 0.72. The high Cohen''s Kappa coefficient under the (B) interpretative criteria indicates good agreement between the two methods. In conclusion, 1) DNA extracted from FFPE specimens of wild boar is suitable for PCR and further represents a screening test for PCV2/PCVD (PCV2 Diseases) investigations in wild boar as well; 2) routine histological sampling can also be useful for PCV2 virological studies in wild boar.     

猪圆环病毒2型原位杂交检测技术的建立与应用

参照GenBank发表的猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）ORF2基因序列设计引物，利用PCR扩增得到PCV2BF株341bp的核酸片段，用随机引物法制备出地高辛标记的核酸探针。制备的探针与PCV1、PRRSV、PPV、PRV等不发生反应，可检测的最低PCV2DNA含量为1．78Pg。对30份临床组织样本进行了检测，并与PCR比较，结果表明，阴性符合率为100％，阳性符合率为88．9％。应用原位杂交技术分析了PCV2在人工感染仔猪主要组织中的分布，结果表明，感染后3d，从仔猪的淋巴结、胸腺、肺脏、脾脏、鼻黏膜可检测到阳性信号，感染后21d，肝脏、肾脏、胰腺和回肠可检出阳性信号，至感染后42d，可从心脏、胃、脑检出阳性信号。在整个试验过程中会厌软骨、膀胱、皮肤、肌肉等组织均为阴性。本研究结果表明，建立的PCV2原位杂交技术具有良好的敏感性和特异性，可用于PCV2的实验室诊断和感染靶细胞的定位分析。     

猪细环病毒和猪圆环病毒2型混合感染状况的调查

为分析我国猪细环病毒(TTSuV)和猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)的共感染情况,利用所设计的TTSuV(TTSuV1、TTSuV2)和PCV2特异性引物对我国29个省市采集的猪群血清样品同时进行PCV2和TTSuV(TTSuV1、TTSuV2) PCR检测,分析混合感染情况.结果所检测的1898份样品中,TTSuV阳性为1103份(58％),PCV2阳性为435份(23％).阳性样品中呈混合感染的有275份(14％),其中TTSuV1和PCV2为249份(13％),TTSuV2和PCV2为200份(10％),均为阳性的有174份(9％).调查结果显示,我国猪群中TTSuV和PCV2混合感染现象较为普遍,对地区性分布特征和饲养模式等影响因素的分析表明TTSuV和PCV2混合感染情况存在地区性差异(P＜0.01),但饲养模式并不是共感染的关键因素.     

Association of porcine circovirus 2 with porcine respiratory disease complex

A retrospective study was performed on natural cases of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) to determine the association and prevalence of PRDC with porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) and other co-existing pathogens in Korea. Histologically, alveolar septa were markedly thickened by infiltrates of mononuclear cells. Moderate to marked multifocal peribronchial and peribronchiolar fibrosis were present and often extended into the airway lamina propria. Among the 105 pigs with PRDC, 85 were positive for PCV2, 66 were positive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), 60 were positive for porcine parvovirus (PPV), and 14 were positive for swine influenza virus (SIV). There were 80 co-infections and 25 single infections. A co-infection of PCV2 with another additional bacterial pathogen is frequently diagnosed in PRDC. The combination of PCV2 and Pasteurella multocida (38 cases) was most prevalent followed by PCV2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (33 cases). The consistent presence of PCV2, but lower prevalence of other viral and bacterial pathogens in all pigs examined with PRDC, has led us to speculate that PCV2 plays an important role in PRDC.     

Efficient surveillance of pig populations using oral fluids

Currently virus surveillance in swine herds is constrained by the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of sampling methods. The objective of this study was to assess the value of using oral fluids collected by barn personnel as a method of surveillance based on PCR testing. Approximately 12,150 pigs in 10 wean-to-finish barns on 10 farms were monitored for the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus (IAV), and Torque teno virus genogroups 1 (TTV1) and 2 (TTV2) by sampling oral fluid specimens. Oral fluid samples were collected from 6 pens at each site starting at the time of pig placement (～3 weeks of age) and continuing thereafter at 2-week intervals for a period of 18 weeks. Data were analyzed both on a pen basis and barn basis. Overall, 508 (85%) samples were positive for PCV2, 73 (12%) for PRRSV, 46 (8%) for IAV, 483 (81%) for TTV2, and 155 (26%) for TTV1 during the study period. The estimated arithmetic means of the quantitative PCR-positive oral fluids for PCV2, PRRSV, and IAV were 1×10(4.62), 1×10(4.97), and 1×10(5.49)per ml. With a single exception, all barns were positive for PCV2 and TTV2 at every sampling point in the study. Virus detection varied among barns, particularly for IAV and PRRSV. The pen level, cumulative distribution of agent combinations between all 10 barns were statistically different. The most commonly observed patterns were PCV2+TTV2 (239 pen samples, 40%), PCV2+TTV1+TTV2 (88 pen samples, 15%), and PCV2 alone (66 pen samples, 11%). This "proof-of-concept" project showed that a variety of viruses could be detected either intermittently or continuously in pig populations and demonstrated that barn herd virus status is highly variable, even among barns in the same production system. Oral fluid sampling is a promising approach for increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of virus surveillance in swine herds.     

猪圆环病毒2型、猪巨细胞病毒和TTV-2混合感染的流行病学调查

本研究根据猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）ORF2、猪巨细胞病毒（PCMV）gB基因和TTV2非编码区序列合成引物,利用PCR方法对2009年来自江苏、浙江、上海、广东和广西等5个省市76个患病猪群的仔猪病料进行了病原学检测。结果显示,PCV2阳性率64.5%（49/76）,TTV2阳性率47.4%（36/76）,PCMV阳...     

猪圆环病毒2型与猪TTV混合感染的流行病学调查

根据GenBank_h发表的猪圆环病毒2型（Porcinecircovirustype2,PCV2）基因组序列和TTV（Torquetenovirus）1、2型的UTR序列设计合成引物,建立了分别用于检测PCV2和TTV1、TTV2的PCR及巢式PCR方法。应用建立的PCR方法对送检的广东、福建和江西等7个省份258份血液和组织样品进行了PCV2、TTV1和TTV2的检测,确定猪群中PCV2与TTV1和／或TTV2混合感染情况。结果表明,94份样品表现为PCV2和TTV1的混合感染,占样品总数的36．4％;193份样品表现为PCV2和TTV2的混合感染,占74．8％;另外,还有一些样品为三重感染,占34．5％。由此可以看出,猪群中PCV2和／或TTV1和／或TTV2的混合感染很普遍。     

First report of porcine circovirus type 2 infections in Cuba

To obtain information about the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection status of pigs in Cuba and the probable association of PCV2 with other porcine viruses, tissue samples collected from ill pigs were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR analysis showed that 67.7% of the samples (23/34) from seven swine herds of six different geographic regions were detected to be positive for PCV2. Ten of the 23 PCV2 positive samples (43.5%) shown a concurrent infection with porcine parvovirus (PPV) and 17 of 23 PCV2 positive samples (73.9%) exhibited a concomitant infection with classical swine fever virus (CSFV). This study is the first report of PCV2 infecting pigs with different clinical conditions in Cuban swine herds and provides evidence of PCV2 co-infection with PPV and CSFV in the field.     

猪场母猪与仔猪猪圆环病毒2型感染情况调查

为了解目前母猪和仔猪猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)感染情况,本试验对来自于15个猪场的85份母猪血清和29个猪场的55份仔猪可疑病料(脾脏、淋巴结、肾脏等),分别采用间接ELISA和PCR法进行PCV2抗体和病毒核酸检测。结果显示,在15个猪场中,1个猪场母猪抗体呈阴性,其他14个猪场母猪抗体均呈阳性,猪场PCV2阳性检出场为93.3%(14/15),85份母猪血清抗体总阳性率为75.3%(64/85)。29个猪场的仔猪,PCV2核酸检测阳性猪场为19个,猪场阳性率为65.5%(19/29),55份仔猪可疑病料病毒核酸检测总阳性率61.8%(34/55)。可见,母猪和仔猪感染PCV2相当普遍。对母猪群PCV2抗体阳性率及其仔猪群病毒核酸阳性率进行比较发现,母猪群PCV2抗体阳性率越高其仔猪群病毒核酸阳性率却越低。     

Nested polymerase chain reaction detection and duration of porcine circovirus type 2 in semen with sperm morphological analysis from naturally infected boars.

A nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) protocol was applied to porcine semen to demonstrate the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) shedding patterns and duration in naturally infected boars. Sperm morphology analysis was performed on a subset of samples to determine if the presence of PCV2 DNA in semen was associated with reduced semen quality. Semen was collected serially from 43 boars representing 6 breeds, aged 33.9 to 149.3 weeks. Of the 903 semen samples collected, 30 samples (3.3%) were positive for PCV2 DNA by nPCR from 13 boars. Boars shedding PCV2 DNA in semen ranged between 35.9 and 71.0 weeks of age, and shedding occurred during a period of up to 27.3 weeks. A semen nPCR test was 2.6 times more likely to be positive when collected from pigs that were < or =52 weeks of age, and 3.0 times more likely to be positive when collected from pigs that were < or =26 weeks from time of entry into the stud main unit (generalized estimating equations: P = 0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] of the odds ratio 1.2 to 5.5, and P = 0.01; 95% CI of the odds ratio 1.3 to 6.9, respectively). These results demonstrate a sporadic and long-term shedding pattern of PCV2 DNA in semen from naturally infected boars. PCV2 DNA in semen does not appear to have detrimental effects on sperm morphology; however, boar age and, possibly, breed may contribute to the persistence of PCV2-shedding in semen.