Investigation of the prevalence of swine torque teno virus in Austria

In the present retrospective study, serum samples from a total of 253 pigs of different age groups from 83 farms collected in the year 2008 were included.The sera were analysed for the presence of torque teno virus (TTV) genogroups 1 and 2. Furthermore, the correlation between TTV and PCV-2 was investigated. 62.1% of the pigs were positive for TTV1 and/or TTV2 by PCR. 21.7% of the samples were positive for TTV1 and TTV2, 16.2% only for TTV1 and 23.3% only for TTV2. In 80.7% of the investigated farms at least one animal was TTV positive. In the growing and fattening period significantly more pigs were positive for TTV than in other age classes. A positive association was found between TTV1 and IgM against PCV-2, between TTV2 and PCV-2 results by in situ hybridisation (ISH) as well as TTV1 and TTV2 and PCV-2 results by qPCR. A significant correlation could also be seen between the diagnosis,porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC)" and the detection of TTV, whereas there was none to the diagnosis "porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS)". In the present study, TTV was detected in Austria for the first time.     

Detection of swine torque teno virus in Italian pig herds

Anellovirus is a recently created, floating genus of viruses. Torque teno virus (TTV), the type species in the genus, was first discovered in a human patient with a post-transfusion hepatitis of unknown aetiology. Recently, TTV genetically related to but distinct from those discovered in humans have also been found in animals, including pigs. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of swine TTV in Italian pig herds and some risk factors possibly associated with this infection. Serum samples from 179 healthy pigs from 10 farms located in north-central Italy were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of swine TTV DNA. Viral DNA was found in the sera of 43 pigs (24.0%), coming from eight of the 10 farms examined. Prevalence was significantly higher in finishing herds (40.1%) than in farrow-to-finish herds (11.0%) and did not depend on the size of the herd. Within the finishing herds the prevalence was significantly higher in weaners (57.4%) than in fatteners (22.9%), but this difference was not observed in farrow-to-finish herds. No relationship was observed between the prevalence of swine TTV and the implementation of some general hygiene practices and biosecurity procedures within the herds.     

2009年我国部分猪群输血传播病毒感染情况调查

为调查输血传播病毒(TTV)在我国猪群中的感染状况,本研究对2009年采自29个省市的1990份猪血清样品进行了TTV1、TTV2的双重PCR方法检测,并对结果进行了统计分析.结果表明,我国猪群中TTV总的感染率为63.37％(1261/1990),其中TTV1感染率为55.88％(1112/1990),TTV2为32.91％ (655/1990),TTV1和TTV2双重感染率为25.43％(506/1990).进而对样品的地区性分布特征、样品来源等影响因素进行分析,表明我国猪群中TTV感染率以东北地区最高,西北地区最低.样品来源不是影响感染率的关键因素.     

断奶仔猪多系统衰竭综合征相关病原混合感染的流行病学调查

为了解中国江苏省及周边地区猪场断奶仔猪多系统衰竭综合征(PMWS)相关病原的流行情况,本研究采用PCR方法,对2014年1月至2015年5月采自江苏、安徽及浙江等地猪场的125份健康猪样品和261份发病猪样品分别进行猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪细小病毒(PPV)、输血性传播病毒(TTV)和类猪圆环病毒P1的检测。结果显示,所有样品PCV2、PRRSV、PPV、TTV1、TTV2和P1的阳性率分别为39.38%、21.76%、3.11%、15.80%、16.32%和10.10%,其中混合感染主要存在于PMWS的发病猪群,以PCV2与TTV2 (15.32%)和PCV2与PRRSV (11.87%)的混合感染为主。结果表明,江苏省及周边地区猪场普遍存在PMWS相关病原的混合感染现象,加大了PMWS相关病原的防控难度。     

Epidemiological Investigation of Multi-pathogens Co-infection with Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome

To investigate the epidemiology of multi-pathogens related with post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Jiangsu province and surrounding areas,125 healthy samples and 261 diseased samples which obtained in Jiangsu,Anhui and Zhejiang provinces from the January 2014 to May 2015 were screened by PCR for the presence of PCV2,PRRSV,PPV,TTV and P1.These results revealed the following infection rates of PCV2,PRRSV,PPV,TTV1,TTV2 and P1 were 39.38%,21.76%,3.11%,15.80%,16.32% and 10.10%,respectively.In comparison,the co-infection of several viruses occurred in the diseased pigs,and the main co-infections were PCV2+TTV2 (15.32%) and PCV2+PRRSV (11.87%).These observations indicated that the phenomenon of co-infection with multi-pathogens had been widely existing in swine,which increased the difficulty of prevention and controlling of the PMWS.     

山东省猪群TTV感染情况及分子流行病学分析

为了确定Torque teno virus(TTV)在山东省猪群中是否存在及其感染情况,本研究利用套式PCR方法检测了来自山东省不同地区10个猪场的230份血液样品和组织样品。结果表明猪群中TTV1和TTV2感染总阳性率分别为45.2%和85.7%。两者的混合感染率为39.3%。用套式PCR引物扩增出TTV1和TTV2的部分片段,并将扩增出的部分基因与已报道的TTV1和TTV2病毒序列进行比较分析。分析结果显示TTV可分为TTV1和TTV2两大分支,其TTV1和TTV2与参考株相比同源性分别为88.0%～92.8%和91.9%～94.1%。本研究证实在山东省猪群中存在TTV感染,由于TTV可以感染人,其在公共卫生学方面的意义应当引起我们的重视。     

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。     

Development of allele-specific primer PCR for a swine TLR2 SNP and comparison of the frequency among several pig breeds of Japan and the Czech Republic

In the present study, we have developed an allele-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR) for genotyping a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of swine Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) (C406G), which is related to the prevalence of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. We also compared the allele frequency among several pig breeds of Japan and the Czech Republic. Allele-specific primers were constructed by introducing 1-base mismatch sequence before the SNP site. The swine TLR2 C406G mutation was successfully determined by the ASP-PCR using genomic DNA samples in Japan as previously genotyped by a sequencing method. Using the PCR condition determined, genomic DNA samples from pig blood obtained from 110 pigs from 7 different breeds in the Czech Republic were genotyped by the ASP-PCR. The genotyping results from the ASP-PCR were completely matched with the results from the sequencing method. The allele frequency of the swine TLR2 C406G mutation was 27.5% in the Czech Republic and 3.6% in Japan. The C406G mutation was only found in the Landrace breed in Japan, and was almost exclusively found in the Landrace breed in the Czech Republic as well. These results indicated the usefulness of ASP-PCR for detecting a specific SNP for swine TLR2.     

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) induces cell proliferation,fusion, and chemokine expression in swine monocytic cells in vitro

Granulomatous lymphadenitis is one of the pathognomonic lesions in post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS)-affected pigs. This unique lesion has not been reported in direct association with viral infection in pigs. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) alone is able to induce functional modulation in porcine monocytic cells in vitro to elucidate its possible role in the development of granulomatous inflammation. It was found that the proliferation activity of blood monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) was significantly enhanced by PCV2. During monocyte-macrophage differentiation, the PCV2 antigen-containing rate and formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) were significantly increased in MDM when compared to those in Mo. The MDM-derived MGC displayed a significantly higher PCV2 antigen-containing rate than did the mono-nucleated MDM. Supernatants from PCV2-inoculated MDM at 24 h post-inoculation induced an increased tendency of chemotactic activity for blood Mo. At the same inoculation time period, levels of mRNA expression of the monocytic chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1, also significantly increased in PCV2-inoculated MDM. The results suggest that PCV2 alone may induce cell proliferation, fusion, and chemokine expression in swine monocytic cells. Thus, PCV2 itself may play a significant role in the induction of granulomatous inflammation in PMWS-affected pigs.     

An epidemic of swine influenza in Japan

In a serological survey of pigs in Japan haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody to swine influenza virus (Hsw1N1) was first detected in 721 of 3313 (21.1 per cent) sera in 1977 and 1578 of 4946 (32.1 per cent) in 1978. The virus was prevalent in all districts of Japan but to a different extent. In contrast to the high incidence of antibody, there were few cases of infection with clinical signs and only 13 outbreaks of swine influenza were recognised in Japan from 1978 to 1979. Thirty-seven influenza viruses were isolated from nasal swabs of diseased pigs in 13 outbreaks. The subtype of most isolates was Hsw1N1 but two strains were Hsw1N2.     

猪群HEV血清抗体调查及一株新的猪HEV ORF2部分基因序列分析

戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)主要引起人的戊型肝炎,新近研究发现猪在病毒传播中可能发挥重要作用.本研究对我国部分省区HEV感染血清学调查,在被检的1 138份血清中,有666份(57.5%)为HEV抗体阳性,猪群抗体阳性率随着月龄增长而升高.通过RT-PCR方法从一份猪粪中扩增并克隆了HEVORF2 N端主要抗原决定区339bp基因片段,序列分析显示,该段基因与我国人群HEV基因4型毒株核苷酸序列同源性为85.9%,但氨基酸序列完全一致.这一结果提示我国猪群存在广泛的HEV感染,并在一定程度上与人群HEV毒株密切相关.     

Natural co-infection of torque teno virus and porcine circovirus 2 in the reproductive apparatus of swine

This work aimed to detect and study natural co-infection of Circoviridae torque teno virus (TTV) and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in the swine reproductive apparatus. Semen and organs from 17 boars were tested by nested and real-time PCR. PCV2 was amplified from semen (47%), lymph nodes (84.6%) and testicles (35.3%). TTV2 was amplified from 16/17 testis and 13/13 lymph nodes. TTV1 DNA was detected in fewer testicle samples (2/17), which were also TTV2 positive. Analyzed ovaries, follicular fluid and uteri of 83 culled sows showed TTV2, TTV1 and PCV2 from 49.3%, 30.1% and 6.0% of the sows, respectively. Sperm analysis indicated insignificant differences between PCV2 and TTVs positive and negative boars. The most frequent pathologic lesion in sows was endometritis (28.9%), but this was unassociated with PCV2 or TTVs detection. These findings question the importance of PCV2 and TTV2 natural co-infection in the pathology of porcine reproductive failures.     

广东省部分猪场细环病毒感染状况

细环病毒（TTV）目前在全世界的猪群中广泛存在。为了调查其在广东省猪群流行情况,我们运用PCR方法对广东省不同地方猪场和散养户送检的445份血清进行了检测。结果表明：TTV总的阳性率为68.1%（303/445）,其中TTV1阳性率为43.1%（192/445）,TTV2阳性率为24.9%（111/445）。TTV1的阳性率高于TTV2的阳性率,且猪场送检样品阳性率高于散养户。TTV1和TTV2存在混合感染,猪场样品混合阳性率为23.1%（88/381）,散养户样品混合阳性率为1.6%（1/64）。几份阳性样品测序和进化分析显示,它们分别属于TTV1和TTV2。调查结果表明TTV在广东猪群中已经广泛存在。     

Comparison of embryonated chicken eggs with MDCK cell culture for the isolation of swine influenza virus

Embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) and the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line were compared for isolation of swine influenza virus (SIV) from nasal swabs and tissue samples. Samples originated from 30 pigs experimentally inoculated with 2 × 10⁶ to 2 × 10⁷ embryo infectious dose 50% (EID₅₀)/mL of swine influenza strain A/Swine/Indiana/1726/88 (H1N1). The results were analyzed with McNemar's chi-squared test for symmetry. The results indicated that more samples were SIV-positive with ECE than with tissue culture (P ≤ 0.001), suggesting that ECE remains the system of choice for isolation of SIV. It is recommend that routine use of both SIV isolation systems will increase the sensitivity of detection of virus shedding by considering the differences in growth and tropism of diverse SIV strains.     

Actinobacillus suis septicemia in mature swine: two outbreaks resembling erysipelas

In the winter of 1987/88 a previously unrecognized septicemic disease syndrome — actinobacillosis in mature sows and gilts — was diagnosed in two minimal-disease swine herds in southwestern Ontario. In herd 1, 34 sows, 2 boars, 13 feeder pigs, and 30 suckling pigs were affected; 11 sows, 2 feeders, and 18 suckling pigs died. In herd 2, 13 sows and 1 feeder pig were affected; 1 sow and 1 feeder pig died. The disease was manifested by moderate fever (39-40.5°C), round or rhomboid erythematous skin lesions, and inappetence. Sudden deaths without previous clinical signs were frequent. Histologically, coccobacillary thromboemboli in superficial and deep dermal vessels were associated with infarcted dermal and epidermal tissues. The causative organism, Actinobacillus suis, was isolated from the affected pigs. Treatment with commonly used antibacterial drugs was effective.

In many respects, the disease resembled acute swine erysipelas and presented diagnostic problems for this reason.