Identification of viral pathogens in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets from cases of swine reproductive failure in Spain

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of recognised abortifacient viruses such as porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), in tissues from aborted fetuses and stillborn neonates in cases of late reproductive failure in swine. A total of 293 specimens (fetuses aborted in the last third of gestation and stillborn piglets) from 100 different cases of late-term abortions and premature farrowing from 15 different Spanish provinces were studied. PRRSV was detected in 9/100 cases by RT-PCR. Only 1/100 cases analysed (corresponding to a late-term aborted fetus with a negative PRRSV RT-PCR result) was positive for PCV2 by PCR. Neither ADV (monitored by viral isolation plus antigen detection) nor PPV (monitored by ELISA antigen capture test) infection was identified. The results suggest that PRRSV is one of the most important infectious agents, if not the most relevant one, associated with fetal infection leading to abortion or premature farrowing in Spain. Moreover, other viral pathogens such as ADV, PPV and PCV2 seem to have a minor impact on reproductive disease.     

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.     

Reduction of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in swine alveolar macrophages by porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2)-induced interferon-alpha

Two common viral pathogens of swine, namely, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), were investigated in regard to their effects on monolayer cultures of swine alveolar macrophages (AMs). The purpose was to identify selected cellular changes and responses potentially associated with the clinical reactions of pigs infected with either or both of these viruses. Measurements included the (1) absolute and relative numbers of infected, viable, and apoptotic cells; (2) distribution of viral antigens; (3) levels of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced and their association with the extent of virus-induced cytopathology. Four groups of AMs were studied, including mock-infected, PCV2 alone-infected (PCV2-A), PRRSV alone-infected (PRRSV-A), and PCV2 and PRRSV dually infected (PCV2/PRRSV) groups. The AMs of PCV2-A group had high antigen-containing rate without cell death. There was a marked increase in cell death and apoptosis in PRRSV-A group. However, a lower PRRSV-induced infectious rate, cell death, and apoptosis were seen in PCV2/PRRSV group. High levels of IFN-alpha production were detected in PCV2-infected groups, but not in mock-infected and PRRSV-A groups. The PRRSV-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) on MARC-145 cells or swine AMs was markedly reduced by pre-incubation of the cells with UV-treated or non-UV-treated supernatants of PCV2-infected AMs. In addition, the reduction in CPE was abolished when the supernatants of PCV2-infected AMs were pre-treated with a mouse anti-recombinant porcine IFN-alpha antibody. The results suggest that swine AMs were an important reservoir of PCV2; PCV2 infection reduced PRRSV infection and PRRSV-associated CPE in PCV2/PRRSV AMs; the reduction of PRRSV infection in AMs was mediated by IFN-alpha generated by PCV2 infection. The reduced PRRSV-associated CPE in AMs and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production may lead to a more severe pneumonic lesion in those dually infected pigs.     

Double in situ hybridization for simultaneous detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus (PCV).

A double in situ hybridization method for the simultaneous detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus (PCV) genomes in the same tissue section was applied to lung tissues from 9 pigs in which PRRSV and PCV coinfection had been previously demonstrated. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were simultaneously hybridized with a digoxigenin-labeled antisense RNA probe for PRRSV and a fluorescein-labeled antisense RNA probe for PCV, and hybridization was detected with anti-digoxigenin alkaline phosphatase/fast red and anti-fluorescein peroxidase/diaminobenzidine, respectively. PRRSV and PCV genomes were identified in the same pulmonary cell types as reported previously in all 9 pigs. In all pigs, PCV-positive cells outnumbered PRRSV-positive cells. A small proportion of alveolar macrophages contained both PRRSV and PCV genomes.     

Detection rates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,porcine circovirus type 2, and swine influenza virus in porcine proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia

A retrospective study on pig lung tissues from 60 cases of proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP) was performed to determine the presence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV), and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in these lesions. Cases selected included 30 cases diagnosed between 1988 and 1992 and 30 cases diagnosed between 1997 and 2001. In each group of 30 cases, 10 were from suckling piglets, whereas the other 20 were from postweaned animals representing either nursery or grower-finisher pigs. Immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to influenza virus type A was used to determine the presence of SIV, and in situ hybridization was used for the detection of PRRSV and PCV2 nucleic acids. PRRSV was detected in 55 of the 60 cases examined (92%), PCV2 in 25 cases (42%), and SIV in only 1 case (2%). In 30 cases (50%), PRRSV was the only virus detected, whereas in 25 other cases (42%), a combination of PRRSV and PCV2 could be detected in the lungs with PNP lesions. PCV2 could not be detected in the lungs of suckling pigs with PNP. All PCV2-positive cases were found in postweaned pigs and were always in combination with PRRSV. In this latter age group, PCV2 was detected in 63% of the cases (25/40). Data from our study indicate that SIV is rarely identified in PNP and that PCV2 infection is not essential for the development of PNP lesions. The results of the present study demonstrate that PRRSV is consistently and predominantly associated with PNP and should be considered the key etiologic agent for the condition.     

5种猪病多重PCR检测方法的建立

To establish a method for simultaneous detection of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine parvovirus (PPV), a multiplex PCR was developed with a set of specific primers designed based on the conserved sequences of CSFV, PRRSV, PRV, PCV2 and PPV. Under the optimized conditions of multiplex PCR,five special fragments of 167 (CSFV),433 (PRRSV),305 (PRV), 559 (PCV2) and 882 bp (PPV) were amplified with a detection limit of 220, 1.6, 72, 400 and 370 pg, respectively. But the multiplex PCR amplification results of swine influenza virus （SIV）, Japanese encephalitis virus （JEV）, Streptococcus suis （SS） and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus （PEDV） were negative．The results showed that the multiplex PCR method was capable of CSFV, PRV, PRRSV, PCV2, PPV infection of single or mixed clinical samples for rapid diagnosis.     

Commercial spray-dried porcine plasma does not transmit porcine circovirus type 2 in weaned pigs challenged with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

The objective of this study was to evaluate if spray dried porcine plasma (SDPP) containing porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genome supplemented in feed could transmit PCV2 to pigs challenged with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Twenty-three PRRSV-free pigs, non-viraemic for PCV2, were housed in bio-safety level 3 facilities and assigned to four groups in a 2×2 factorial design consisting of PRRSV challenge and a negative control. The diet contained 0 or 8kg SDPP per 100kg of feed. PRRSV challenge groups were inoculated intranasally with 2mL of a suspension containing 10(6) TCID(50)/mL PRRSV. The SDPP used in the study contained 7.56×10(5) PCV2 genome copies per gram. Dietary treatments were fed from 4days prior to PRRSV inoculation until 28days post-inoculation (PI). All challenged pigs developed PRRSV viraemia by day 3PI and PRRSV antibodies were detected in sera by day 14PI, with no difference between diet treatments. Neither PRRSV viraemia nor seroconversion was observed in non-challenged pigs. PCV2 was not detected in the serum of any pigs throughout the experimental period. SDPP containing the PCV2 genome supplemented in feed did not result in PCV2 transmission to either healthy or PRRSV-infected pigs under these experimental conditions.     

Isolation and characterization of porcine circovirus type-2 from sera of stillborn fetuses

In order to examine an association between porcine circovirus type-2 (PCV2) infection and reproductive failure in pigs, sera (n = 171) from stillborn fetuses were collected from 3 different farms with prolonged histories of reproductive problems. These sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to PCV2 using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. Of the 171 sera tested, 28 had PCV2 antibody titers of ≥ 1:16. When these 28 samples were tested by a polymerase chain reaction assay, 13 were found to contain PCV2 viral DNA. Of these 13 samples containing both PCV2 antibodies and viral DNA, 9 yielded PCV2 on virus isolation. Amino acid sequences comprising open reading frame 2 of PCV2 from 2 of these isolates were compared to PCV2 isolates from cases of post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The amino acid sequences of the 2 isolates from stillborn pigs were shown to be nearly identical to each other, as well as to other PCV2 isolates associated with reproductive failure. When compared with PMWS isolates, the isolates from the stillborn fetuses showed differences of at least 2 amino acids. These results confirm previous findings that transplacental infection of PCV2 occurs in the field and that stillbirths in pigs may be associated with PCV2 infections. At present, the significance of minor differences in amino acid sequences is not known.     

Porcine parvovirus- and porcine circovirus 2-associated reproductive failure and neonatal mortality in crossbred Indian pigs

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in a farm showing reproductive failure and increased mortality in neonatal piglets by histopathological examination, polymerase chain reaction, and demonstration of viral antigen and nucleic acid. Out of 594 piglets farrowed by 70 first-parity gilts, nine (1.51%) mummified fetuses, 13 (2.19%) stillborn, and 572 (96.3%) live-born piglets were recorded. The average litter size at birth was 8.48 piglets per litter. One hundred ninety-four (33.91%) piglets died within 7 days of age. PPV was detected in five litters (7.14%) and two of them revealed coinfection with PCV2. The pathological lesions in the coinfected litters were more severe, indicating a synergistic action between the two viruses. Results of this study suggest for the first time occurrence of PPV and coinfection with PCV2 in crossbred Indian pigs affected with reproductive problem and neonatal mortality.     

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) influences infection dynamics of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) subtypes PCV2a and PCV2b by prolonging PCV2 viremia and shedding

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection on porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) subtypes a (PCV2a) or b (PCV2b) viremia and shedding characteristics in oral, nasal and fecal samples in experimentally infected pigs. Twenty-three, 2- to 6-week-old pigs were randomly divided into five groups: negative control (n=3), PCV2a-I (n=5), PCV2a-PRRSV-CoI (n=5), PCV2b-I (n=5), and PCV2b-PRRSV-CoI (n=5). Blood, oral, nasal and fecal swabs were collected in regular intervals from day post inoculation (dpi) 0 until dpi 70 and tested by quantitative real-time PCR for the presence and amount of PCV2 DNA and by ELISA for the presence of PCV2-specific antibodies. The results indicate that there were significantly (P<0.05) higher loads of PCV2a and PCV2b DNA in serum, oral swabs, nasal swabs and fecal swabs and a higher prevalence of detectable PCV2 antigen in tissues of pigs concurrently infected with PCV2 and PRRSV compared to pigs singularly infected with PCV2 further confirming that PRRSV enhances replication of PCV2. Moreover, PRRSV infection significantly prolonged the presence of PCV2 DNA in serum and increased the amount of PCV2 DNA in oral and nasal secretions and fecal excretions in the later stages of infection between dpi 28 and 70. Shedding patterns were similar between groups infected with PCV2a and PCV2b, indicating that there was no subtype-specific interaction with the PRRSV isolate used in this study. The results from this study highlight the interaction between PRRSV and PCV2 and the importance of controlling PRRSV infection in order to reduce PCV2 virus loads in pig populations.     

Case-control study on the association of porcine circovirus type 2 and other swine viral pathogens with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome.

A field-based case-control study was conducted to assess the strength of association of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and some major swine viruses with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Cases were defined as individual pigs with a clinical history of progressive weight loss and histopathological lesions characteristic of PMWS. Controls were pigs without clinical signs and histopathological lesions typical of PMWS. A total of 31 cases and 56 controls was identified from diagnostic submissions. Serum and various tissues were collected from all animals and assayed for PCV, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine parvovirus, porcine enterovirus types 1-3, swine influenza virus, porcine respiratory coronavirus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine endogenous retrovirus, porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus type 1, and bovine viral diarrhea virus. The proportion of case and control pigs positive for each virus was determined and statistically compared for determining the strength of the association that each virus had with PMWS individually or in combinations. Porcine circovirus type 2 had the strongest association (OR = 9.3, P = 0.006) with PMWS among the viruses tested for. Risk for PWMS was much higher (OR = 31.2, P = 0.0009) if the animal was concurrently infected with PCV2 and PRRSV, suggesting that development of PMWS may be enhanced by cofactor(s). Because PCV2 was also found in 62.5% of the controls, PCV2 from 5 cases and 4 controls were selected and genetically compared. No significant genetic difference was observed between PCV2 from PMWS and control pigs.     

Detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, porcine circovirus type 2, swine influenza virus and Aujeszky's disease virus in cases of porcine proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP) in Spain

Proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP) is a severe form of interstitial pneumonia characterised by hypertrophy and proliferation of pneumocytes type 2 and presence of necrotic cells within alveoli lumen. Many viral agents have been linked to PNP aetiology, with especial emphasis on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). To gain knowledge on PNP causality, a retrospective study on 74 PNP cases from postweaning pigs from Spain was carried out. Coupled with histopathological examinations, the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) by in situ hybridization (ISH), and PRRSV, swine influenza virus (SIV) and Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) by immunohistochemical (IHC) methods, were investigated. PCV2 was the most prevalent viral agent in PNP cases (85.1%) followed by PRRSV (44.6%); 39.1% of PNP cases showed PCV2 as the solely detected agent, while only 4.1% had PRRSV as the unique pathogen. SIV and ADV were very sporadically detected in PNP cases, and always in co-infection with PCV2. Therefore, present data indicate that PCV2 is the most important aetiological agent in PNP cases from Spain and that PRRSV is not essential for the development of PNP. Taking into account the presented results and available literature, we suggest that PCV2 is possibly the main contributor to PNP cases in Europe while PRRSV could play a similar role in North America.     

猪圆环病毒和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒混合感染对仔猪致病性的评估

本研究通过猪圆环病毒2型(Porcine circovirus type 2,PCV2)和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征(Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)强毒共感染3周龄健康仔猪来评价其致病性。试验动物随机分为3组,空白对照组(n=3头),PRRSV单独感染组(n=3头),PCV2和PRRSV共感染组(n=6头),从而比较相互之间的差异。通过临床症状、病理学变化、病原学和血清学检查,对二者混合感染仔猪的致病性进行了研究。结果表明PCV2和PRRSV共同感染能引起仔猪断奶后多系统消耗性综合征,表现为淋巴组织肿大、出血,肉芽肿性炎症,坏死性肝炎,仔猪消瘦、生长缓慢等特征性病变;混合感染能加重PRRSV对仔猪引起的间质性肺炎的严重程度。混合感染可以出现支气管肺炎和明显的肝病变,淋巴结多呈界限明显的块状出血等典型病变。     

同时检测猪圆环病毒2型、猪细小病毒和伪狂犬病毒连接酶检测反应-PCR基因芯片检测方法的建立

为快速、灵敏、准确地同时检测和鉴别猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪细小病毒(PPV)和伪狂犬病毒(PRV)的方法,本研究采用连接酶检测反应(LDR)-PCR和基因芯片技术建立一种新型检测方法.首先在3种病毒的保守区内分别设计一对LDR探针,两端各连接一段通用序列,依次进行LDR、通用引物荧光标记扩增和芯片杂交,同时比较引物标记和Cy5 -dCTP标记方法的灵敏度.结果表明该方法可以特异地检测PCV2、PPV和PRV3种病毒,而对牛病毒性腹泻病毒、猪传染性胃肠炎病毒、猪流行性腹泻病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸障碍综合征病毒、猪瘟病毒、乙型脑炎病毒、猪圆环病毒1型检测结果均为阴性;对3种病毒的最低检测限少于10个拷贝;Cy5-dCTP标记检测的灵敏度显著高于引物标记.利用建立的方法对41例临床样品进行检测,与普通PCR检测结果符合率为97.6％～100％.该方法的建立为基础研究和临床应用提供了技术平台.     

2014-2018年广西6种猪主要病毒性繁殖障碍疫病流行病学调查

试验旨在了解广西猪主要病毒性繁殖障碍疫病的发生态势,为预防和控制此类疫病提供科学依据。采用RT-PCR/PCR方法对2014年3月至2018年2月采自广西的349份流产胎儿样品进行猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪细小病毒(PPV)及猪乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)6种主要病毒性繁殖障碍疫病病原的检测并分析其阳性检出率在不同年份、季节之间的差异及病原混合感染情况。结果显示,2014-2017年,6种病原的猪场阳性率从高到低依次为JEV(36.00%)、PRRSV(16.00%)、PCV2(9.00%)、PRV(7.00%)、PPV(6.00%)和CFSV(5.00%),样品阳性检出率从高到低依次为JEV(27.06%)、PRRSV(6.18%)、PRV(5.88%)、PCV2(3.82%)、CSFV(2.35%)和PPV(2.35%)。季节因素对6种病毒性繁殖障碍疫病的发生有一定影响:JEV在夏季、秋季检出率较高,春季、冬季检出率较低;PRRSV一年四季检出率均较高,且无明显差异;PCV2在春季检出率较高,其次是夏季和冬季,秋季检出率较低;PRV在春季、冬季检出率较高,夏季、秋季检出率均为0;PPV在夏季检出率较高,其次是春季和秋季,冬季检出率为0;CSFV在冬季检出率最高,其次是夏季,春季和秋季检出率均为0。流产胎儿以单一感染为主,6种病毒均存在不同程度单一感染情况,单一感染率JEV最高(23.82%)、PCV2最低(0.59%);混合感染以双重感染为主,其中以2016年双重感染情况较多,且感染组合多样;三重感染情况较少、仅在2016年送检样品中发现1例,未发现四重及四重以上感染情况。调查结果表明,2014-2017年,JEV均有较高的阳性检出率,已成为广西部分猪场母猪流产最主要病毒性病原。PRRSV和PRV仍是目前引起广西猪场母猪流产的主要病毒性病原。     

种公猪精液中与繁殖障碍有关的6种病毒的检测

采用PCR和RT-PCR技术,于2006年4月～10月对上海及其周边地区的30个猪场和人工授精站的生产公猪精液样品355份进行了猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪细小病毒(PPV)、猪圆环病毒(PCV)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)和日本脑炎病毒(JEV)等6种与猪繁殖障碍有关的病毒的检测,结果表明,日本脑炎病毒检测为阴性,检出PRRSV、PRV、CSFV、PPV和PCV阳性数和阳性率分别为6份(1.69%)、9份(2.54%)、5份(1.41%)、75份(21.1%)、6份(1.69%),有一个猪场的5份样品存在PRV和PPV混合感染.     

Prevalence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2 in piglets after weaning on a commercial pig farm in Japan

To investigate the transition in concentration of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and antibody for these viruses in serum, serum samples were collected from 29 pigs on weaning day and at 7, 14, 21, 28, 53, 84, and 120 days after weaning. The concentration of circulated PRRSV and PCV2 in serum was measured by real-time RT-PCR and real-time PCR, respectively. The specific antibody for PRRSV and PCV2 was measured using ELISA. PRRSV was not detected on 0 days post-weaning (dpw). The specific antibody for PRRSV began to increase as the concentration of PRRSV in serum increased, and the level of PRRSV then tended to decrease. PCV2 was detected in 12 of 28 pigs on 0 dpw. The concentration of PCV2 and the specific antibody for PCV2 showed a similar tendency to those of PRRSV. The correlation analysis suggests that a decline in the daily weight gain coincided with an increase in the PRRSV concentration. Pigs with a higher antibody titer against PRRSV or PCV2 on 0 dpw showed the lower level of PRRSV or PCV2, respectively.     

一例猪圆环病毒2型和大肠杆菌、溶血葡萄球菌混合感染的诊断

山东德州某猪场发生猪高热、呼吸系统疾病甚至死亡的疫情。采集病料提取病变组织总DNA或RNA进行猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪圆环病毒2型、猪细小病毒、猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪瘟病毒的PCR或RT-PCR检测。PCR扩增出353 bp的猪圆环病毒2型特异性条带。同时进行细菌分离培养、生化鉴定等试验,诊断为猪圆环病毒2型和大肠杆菌、溶血葡萄球菌混合感染。