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.     

Proliferative and necrotising pneumonia and severe vascular lesions in pigs naturally infected with porcine circovirus type 2

Severe disease induced by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) was observed in three pigs originating from a large herd affected by respiratory and digestive signs as well as wasting. Proliferative and necrotising pneumonia (PNP) was diagnosed in two animals, while severe acute interstitial pneumonia characterised by the presence of abundant hyaline membrane in the alveoli and fibrin in the bronchioles was found in one pig. In all cases, large amounts of PCV2 antigen were found in each tissue sample collected from the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes. Neither porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) nor swine influenza virus (SIV) was detected, and no bacteria could be cultured in any of the cases. Vascular lesions, e.g. degeneration of endothelial cells, perivascular and intramural oedema, fibrinoid necrosis, vasculitis, perivasculitis, and vascular thrombi were observed in all cases, associated with the presence of PCV2 antigen. The viral antigen was present in the intravascular mononuclear cells, endothelial cells, myocytes and infiltrating inflammatory cells in lymph and blood vessels. In one case, obliterating thrombi in the lymph and blood vessels were directly connected to areas of tissue necrosis and were associated with abundant PCV2 antigen. The results further suggest the causative role of PCV2 infection in PNP, and the importance of the vascular system in the pathogenesis of PCV2-associated diseases of swine.     

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.     

Identification of porcine circovirus in tissues of pigs with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome

Thirty-three pigs affected by porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, 30 from Spain and three from the USA, were investigated in order to detect porcine circovirus (PCV) in their tissues. A standard in situ hybridisation technique using a specific DNA 317-bp probe based on a well-conserved sequence of PCV (which recognises both PCV-1 and PCV-2) was applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Twenty-eight of the 30 Spanish pigs and all three American pigs had PCV in at least one tissue. Viral nucleic acid was detected mainly in lymphoid organs, and especially the lymph nodes. The viral genome was also found, in order of decreasing quantity, in Peyer's patches, tonsil, lung, spleen, kidney, liver, and skin. Viral nucleic acid was located mainly within the cytoplasm of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells, including follicular dendritic cells, macrophages, histiocytes and Kupffer cells. No viral nucleic acid was found in damaged glomeruli or arteriolar walls. In frozen samples available from three Spanish pigs, the virus was identified as type 2 by using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Most of the pigs from which serum was available were seropositive against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV), and PRRSV antigen was detected in the lung of two of the Spanish pigs. These results suggested that PCV is present in tissues of almost all pigs affected by PDNS, and PCV has to be considered as a possible agent involved in the pathogenesis of the syndrome.     

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。     

PCV2、PRV和PRRSV多重PCR方法的建立及其应用

根据GenBank登录的猪伪狂犬病毒（PRV）、猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）的参考基因序列,设计3对引物分别用于扩增PCV2的ORF2基因、PRV的gE基因、PRRSV的N基因的目的片段,通过优化反应中各个影响因素,建立了PRV、PCV2、PRRSV的多重PCR（mPCR）检测方法。敏感性和特异性的结果表明,该方法对这3种病毒的最低核酸检出量分别为32.5（PRV）、25.2（PCV2）、35.9pg（PRRSV）。该方法对猪流感病毒（SIV）、猪圆环病毒1型（PCV1）、大肠杆菌、猪瘟病毒（CSFV）、猪流行性腹泻病毒（TGE）等病毒的检测结果均为阴性。200份临床样品的多重PCR结果表明,PCV2感染率为80%（160/200）,PRV感染率为21%（42/200）,PRRSV的感染率为78%（156/200）。200份临床样品主要为PCV2和PRRSV混合感染,阳性率达56.0%（112/200）。该方法的建立对这3种病毒病的早期快速检测和指导临床实践具有十分重要的意义。     

Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are pathogens, which can significantly affect the swine industry worldwide. Field surveys suggest that simultaneous PRRSV and PCV2 infection is common in pigs. The objective of this study was to measure the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with PRRSV and PCV2, in order to analyze the synergistic influence of co-infection on the immune system. Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations were systematically measured by flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2 were detected by indirect Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), respectively. Serum viral loads were measured using real-time PCR. The results showed that piglets co-infected with PRRSV and PCV2 exhibited slower generation and lower levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2, and increased amounts and a prolonged presence of both PRRSV and PCV2 in serum, in comparison to the piglets infected with either virus alone. The major finding in our study was that the total and differential leukocyte counts, including white blood cells (WBCs), monocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes (T, B and NK cells, as well as T-cell subpopulations), dramatically decreased early during co-infection with PRRSV and PCV2 for about two weeks, in contrast with animals singly infected with either PRRSV or PCV2. These results suggest that PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection results in a synergistic decrease in immune cells in the peripheral blood of piglets. These data contribute to the understanding of the immunosuppressive effects resulting from PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection in pigs.     

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。     

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of important pig viral diseases in Bhutan

A cross-sectional serological study was conducted in Bhutan between October 2011 and February 2012 to determine the prevalence of antibodies to classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), swine influenza virus (SIV) subtype H1N1 and Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). Furthermore, risk factors for the seropositive status were investigated.     

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.     

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.     

Experimental reproduction of severe disease in CD/CD pigs concurrently infected with type 2 porcine circovirus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Three-week-old cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived (CD/CD) pigs were inoculated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2, n = 19), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV, n = 13), concurrent PCV2 and PRRSV (PCV2/PRRSV, n = 17), or a sham inoculum (n = 12) to compare the independent and combined effects of these agents. Necropsies were performed at 7, 10, 14, 21, 35, and 49 days postinoculation (dpi) or when pigs became moribund. By 10 dpi, PCV2/PRRSV-inoculated pigs had severe dyspnea, lethargy, and occasional icterus; after 10 dpi, mortality in this group was 10/11 (91%), and all PCV2/ PRRSV-inoculated pigs were dead by 20 dpi. PCV2-inoculated pigs developed lethargy and sporadic icterus, and 8/19 (42%) developed exudative epidermitis; mortality was 5/19 (26%). PRRSV-inoculated pigs developed dyspnea and mild lethargy that resolved by 28 dpi. Microscopic lesions consistent with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) were present in both PCV2- and PCV2/PRRSV-inoculated pigs and included lymphoid depletion, necrotizing hepatitis, mild necrotizing bronchiolitis, and infiltrates of macrophages that occasionally contained basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in lymphoid and other tissues. PCV2/ PRRSV-inoculated pigs also had severe proliferative interstitial pneumonia and more consistent hepatic lesions. The most severe lesions contained the greatest number of PCV2 antigen-containing cells. PRRSV-inoculated pigs had moderate proliferative interstitial pneumonia but did not develop bronchiolar or hepatic lesions or lymphoid depletion. All groups remained seronegative to porcine parvovirus. The results indicate that 1) PCV2 coinfection increases the severity of PRRSV-induced interstitial pneumonia in CD/CD pigs and 2) PCV2 but not PRRSV induces the lymphoid depletion, granulomatous inflammation, and necrotizing hepatitis characteristic of PMWS.     

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.     

Prevalence and association of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in aborted fetuses, mummified fetuses, stillborn and nonviable neonatal piglets

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) seems to cause reproductive failure in sows not only in experimental studies. A retrospective study was made with a total of 252 aborted fetuses, mummified fetuses, stillborn and nonviable neonatal piglets to determine the presence of PCV2, porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) by PCR. PCV2 was found in all stages of gestation in 27.1 percent of samples examined. A statistically significant association could be shown between the detection of PCV2 and PRRSV. However, no significant association was seen between the detection of PCV2 and PPV and between PPV and PRRSV.     

Association of porcine circovirus type 2 with vascular lesions in porcine pneumonia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasculature in porcine circovirus type 2-infected (PCV2-infected) lungs and to identify the PCV2 subtypes involved in porcine pneumonia. Pulmonary samples from 140 pigs, 2 weeks to 7 months of age, from 36 Hungarian commercial herds with clinical signs of respiratory disease were examined for the presence of respiratory pathogens, with bacterial culture, pathologic evaluation, and immunohistochemistry for PCV2, porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome virus, and swine influenza virus. PCV2 was the most commonly identified pathogen (49 cases) among the 74 of 140 cases (53%) with respiratory pathogens. PCV2 was detected immunohistochemically in the wall of 13% to 100% of pulmonary vessels (mean, 89%) in 38 of 49 cases (78%). Detection of PCV2 antigen was positively correlated with the presence of vascular lesions (P < .001, odds ratio [OR]: 159.54). Other pathogens capable of vascular injury in swine were found in 29 of 49 of the PCV2-positive cases (59%). The probability of detecting vascular lesions in PCV2-infected lung was higher than in infection with porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome virus (P < .002, OR: 14.63), Pasteurella multocida infection (P < .001, OR: 5.75), or Streptococcus spp. infection (not significant, OR: 1.45). Sequence analysis of open reading frame 2 amplicons was possible in 6 PCV2-positive cases, from which 5 cases proved to be PCV2b subtype and 1 case, PCV2a subtype. In conclusion, PCV2 antigen was commonly colocalized with pulmonary vascular lesions in pneumonia in Hungarian swine, and PCV2b was the dominant subtype.     

双重RT-PGR方法检测猪流感病毒和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒

为建立特异、敏感的猪流感病毒(SIV)和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)的双重RT-PCR检测方法,本研究根据GenBank登录的SIV M基因保守序列和PRRSV美洲型毒株的N基因保守序列,设计合成了2对特异引物,通过对扩增条件的优化,建立检测SIV和PRRSV的双重RT-PCR方法.检测结果显示:该方法可同时扩增出SIV(345 bp)和PRRSv(520 bp)的特异性片段;而猪瘟病毒、猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪细小病毒、猪圆环病毒2型及阴性鸡胚尿囊液核酸扩增结果均为阴性;对SIV和PRRSV 2种病毒混合液的最小检出量分别为102 EID50/0.1 mL和103TCID50/0.1 mL.应用双重RT-PCR和病毒分离法对12份临床疑似样品进行对比检测,结果表明:除双重RT-PCR检测到双阳性的3份混合感染病料中1份未分离到PRRSV外,其余2份均分离出病毒.证明该方法具有良好的特异性、敏感性,可以用于临床样品的早期快速检测.     

The comparative profile of lymphoid cells and the T and B cell spectratype of germ-free piglets infected with viruses SIV,PRRSV or PCV2

Lymphocyte subsets isolated from germ-free piglets experimentally infected with swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) or porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were studied and the profile of these subsets among these three infections was monitored. Germ-free piglets were used since their response could be directly correlated to the viral infection. Because SIV infections are resolved even by colostrum-deprived neonates whereas PRRSV and PCV2 infections are not, SIV was used as a benchmark for an effectively resolved viral infection. PRRSV caused a large increase in the proportion of lymphocytes at the site of infection and rapid differentiation of B cells leading to a high level of Ig-producing cells but a severe reduction in CD2^—CD21⁺ primed B cells. Unlike SIV and PCV2, PRRSV also caused an increase in terminally differentiated subset of CD2⁺CD8α⁺ γδ cells and polyclonal expansion of major Vβ families suggesting that non-specific helper T cells drive swift B cell activation. Distinct from infections with SIV and PRRSV, PCV2 infection led to the: (a) prevalence of MHC-II⁺ T cytotoxic cells, (b) restriction of the T helper compartment in the respiratory tract, (c) generation of a high proportion of FoxP3⁺ T cells in the blood and (d) selective expansion of IgA and IgE suggesting this virus elicits a mucosal immune response. Our findings suggest that PRRSV and PCV2 may negatively modulate the host immune system by different mechanisms which may explain their persistence.

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