Detection and molecular characterization of porcine group C rotaviruses in South Korea

Group C rotaviruses (GCRVs) cause acute diarrhea in humans and animals worldwide and the evidence for a possible zoonotic role of GCRVs has been recently provided. However, there is little evidence of porcine GCRV infections or of their genetic diversity in South Korea. We examined 137 diarrheic fecal specimens from 55 farms collected from six provinces. RT-PCR utilizing primer pairs specific for the GCRV VP6 gene detected GCRV-positive reactions in 36 (26.2%) diarrheic fecal samples. Of these, 17 samples (12.4%) tested positive for porcine GCRVs alone and 19 samples (13.8%) were also positive for other pathogens. Other enteric pathogens except for GCRV were detected in 64 feces samples (46.7%) and no enteric pathogens were evident in 37 feces samples (27.0%). Phylogenetic and sequence homology analyses of GCRV partial VP6 gene between 23 Korean and other known porcine GCRVs demonstrated that Korean strains belonged to the porcine lineage. Furthermore, one Korean porcine strain shared the highest nucleotide (89.7–89.0%) and deduced amino acid sequence (92.9–93.9%) identities with bovine GCRV strains and was placed in the bovine GCRV lineage indicative of bovine origin. In conclusion, porcine GCRV infections are widespread in piglets with diarrhea in South Korea. The infecting porcine GCRVs mostly belong to the porcine lineage with the exception of one bovine-like GCRV, which possibly originated from bovine GCRV due to interspecies transmission.     

Animal noroviruses

Among enteric caliciviruses, noroviruses belong to the genus Norovirus, one of the four accepted genera in the family Caliciviridae. These single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses are highly variable both genetically and antigenically. Several animal enteric caliciviruses that are morphologically indistinguishable and genetically closely related to human noroviruses have been identified. The first bovine enteric noroviruses were described in Great Britain and are known as Newbury Agent 2. At least three genetic clusters of porcine noroviruses join together within genogroup II noroviruses. Human noroviruses are the most important cause of acute gastroenteritis illness in people of all ages. In the USA, they are associated with approximately 30-50% of all food-borne outbreaks. Until now, noroviruses have not been associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in immunocompetent animals. Neither bovine nor porcine noroviruses can replicate in cell culture, although human norovirus can grow in a complex 3D culture system. However, the recently discovered murine noroviruses can replicate in cell culture and are therefore used as model viruses to study human noroviruses. This review focusses on virus classification, virion structure, pathogenesis, epidemiology, immune response and diagnosis of animal noroviruses in comparison with human noroviruses. The classification of animal enteric caliciviruses within the Norovirus genus raises the question of whether transmission from an animal reservoir to humans could occur. Answering this question is important in determining the risk of cross-species infections affecting the epidemiology and evolution of these viruses and so complicating the control of human norovirus infections.     

猪流行性腹泻新毒株的分离鉴定和致病性研究

为探明2011年我国猪群仔猪腹泻的病因,采用巢式RT-PCR方法对河南和辽宁省2个规模猪场采集43份出现腹泻的粪便进行猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）、猪传染性胃肠炎病毒（TGEV）和轮状病毒（PRoV）的检测,结果表明：43份腹泻样品均为PEDV,没有检测出TGEV和PRoV。对扩增的PEDV进行测序和分析显示,这些PEDV流行毒株均属于基因G2.3亚型,彼此之间的同源性高达99.2%～100%,与2011年韩国和2008年泰国流行的PEDV毒株同属于一个进化分支。将其中3份病料在Vero细胞传代后接种2日龄仔猪,结果发现接种后13～57h内仔猪全部死亡,接种仔猪呈现典型的腹泻症状和病理变化特征,提示了这些PEDV流行毒株具有较强的致病性。     

Phylogenetic analysis of porcine rotavirus in Argentina: increasing diversity of G4 strains and evidence of interspecies transmission

Group A rotaviruses are one of the most frequently detected viral agents associated with neonatal diarrhea in piglets. In order to characterize rotavirus (RV) strains circulating in Argentinean swine, four porcine production farms located in Buenos Aires were studied. RV strains genotyped as P[6]G4, P[6]G8 and P[1]G6 were found in piglets under 30 days of age, without diarrhea. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis of the VP7 gene from G4 strains available in databases, reveals five porcine new lineages (III-VII) and three sublineages (VIIa-VIIc). The G4 porcine Argentinean strains were grouped with a porcine RV strain isolated in Brazil and another RV strain isolated from a child with diarrhea in Mexico, constituting an American lineage (VII). On the other hand, porcine G6 and G8 were closely related to RV's circulating in Argentinean cattle and South-American camelids, respectively. The fact that G4 porcine lineages were epidemiologically related to human strains, and G6 and G8 Argentinean porcine strains were found related to bovine and South-American camelids, respectively, suggests that pigs might play a crucial role as reservoir and generator of newly adapted emerging RV strains for human and other species.     

Seroprevalence and molecular detection of porcine sapovirus in symptomatic suckling piglets in Guangdong Province,China

The seroprevalence and genetic identification of sapovirus (SaV) in symptomatic suckling piglets were investigated in Guangdong Province, China, between November 2011 and April 2013. Serum (n?=?960) and diarrheic fecal (n?=?101) samples collected from symptomatic suckling piglets in Guangdong Province were evaluated for antibodies against SaV using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The overall seroprevalence of SaV in symptomatic suckling piglets was 61.9 % (594/960). Positive animals were found in all regions with seroprevalence ranging from 52 to 67.8 %, but the difference was not statistically significant (P?>?0.05). In addition, RNA of SaV was extracted from diarrheic fecal samples, and the partial polymerase gene was amplified by RT-PCR and then sequenced. Seven of 101 (6.9 %) samples were found to contain porcine SaV. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the porcine SaV isolates belong to the porcine SaV genogroup III (GIII). This is the first report of SaV seroprevalence in symptomatic pigs in China.     

Enteric viral infections of turkey poults: incidence of infection

Four flocks from one commercial market-turkey operation in Ohio were monitored for the presence of enteric viruses. Each flock was sampled at intervals from placement until at least 7 weeks of age; sampling was more frequent in the first 4 weeks of life. The earliest infections detected were astrovirus infections or combination infections of astrovirus and rotavirus-like virus (RVLV) or astrovirus and rotavirus. During the first 4 weeks of life, astrovirus was the most frequently detected virus, followed by RVLV, then rotavirus. These viruses were seldom detected beyond 4 weeks of age. In three of the four flocks, no viruses were detected in samples collected before 6 days of age; in one flock, however, rotavirus and astrovirus were identified from samples collected at 3 days of age. Experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free poults with astrovirus and RVLV produced enteric diseases in poults and demonstrated that astrovirus was shed into the intestinal tract before RVLV. Poults experimentally infected with astrovirus and RVLV displayed clinical signs of diarrhea and upon necropsy exhibited dilated ceca, frothy gaseous intestinal contents, and loss of intestinal tone.     

Genetic diversity of porcine sapoviruses

Sapoviruses (SaVs) within the Caliciviridae family are an important cause of gastroenteritis in both humans and animals. Although the widespread occurrence of divergent human SaV strains has been reported, there have only been a few studies of porcine SaVs examining their genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of porcine SaVs in piglets with diarrhea in South Korea. Two hundred and thirty-seven fecal specimens from piglets with diarrhea were examined from 78 farms over a 2-year period from six provinces in South Korea. Overall, 69 (29.1%) of the samples from five provinces tested positive for porcine SaVs by either RT-PCR or nested PCR with the primer pairs specific to porcine SaVs. An analysis of the partial capsid gene (757bp) of 12 porcine SaVs detected from fecal samples showed genetic divergence, not only among the Korean porcine SaVs (67.7-99.1%), but also between Korean and American porcine SaVs (69.1-90.2%). Interestingly, one strain (Po/SaV/JN-MA113/05/Korea), formed a second porcine SaV/GIII genotype, and is tentatively called GIII/2. This strain had a 0.236-0.405 inter-cluster distance with the other strains in the same genogroup, which is comparable to the distances between the established GI and GII SaVs. Furthermore, two potential recombinant porcine SaVs were identified. In conclusion, porcine SaV infections are common in diarrheic piglets in South Korea. The infecting strains are genetically diverse, and include a newly recognized genotype and recombinant viruses within genogroup III.     

RT-PCR test for detecting porcine sapovirus in weanling piglets in Hunan Province, China

The prevalence of porcine sapovirus infection in weanling pigs was investigated in Hunan Province, China, between August 2006 and October 2007. A total of 153 diarrheic fecal samples from ten intensive pig farms from ten representative administrative regions in Hunan province were examined for porcine sapoviruses using RT-PCR. Twenty-two of 153 (14.37?%) samples were found to contain porcine sapoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the porcine sapovirus isolates in Hunan Province belonged to the porcine sapovirus genogroup III. The results of the present investigation have implications for the control of porcine sapovirus infection in pigs in Hunan Province, China.     

Identification of bovine enteric Caliciviruses (BEC) from cattle in Baden-Württemberg

Caliciviruses are known to cause different diseases in many animal species. The bovine enteric caliciviruses (BEC) are associated with diarrhoea in cattle. These viruses have been classified in the genus Norovirus and are closely related to human noroviruses, the leading cause of gastroenteritis in humans. This has raised questions about zoonotic transmission and an animal reservoir for the human viruses. Two samples from 41 stool samples collected for diagnostic purposes from diarrheic cattle in Aulendorf, Germany tested positive for BEC. The samples were amplified with new degenerate BEC specific primers, which amplify a 263 bp portion of the RNA polymerase region. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences showed that these viruses are most closely related to the Norovirus genogroup III/2 (Bo/NLV/Newbury-2/76/UK) viruses.     

猪博卡病毒PCR检测方法的建立及其初步流行病学调查

猪博卡病毒(PBoV)是一种新出现的病毒,可以导致仔猪急性腹泻。为建立该病毒的检测方法,本实验根据PBoV的NS1基因序列设计一对引物,建立了PCR检测方法。特异性试验结果表明,该方法能够从PBoV阳性样品中特异性的扩增出482 bp的片段,而对猪伪狂犬病毒、猪细小病毒、猪细小病毒、猪圆环病毒、沙门氏菌、大肠杆菌、猪链球菌、副猪嗜血杆菌的核酸样品均无非特异性扩增反应。敏感性试验显示,该PCR方法对PBoV的最低检测量为213.6拷贝。此外,应用该方法对湖北、湖南、河南省的各大猪场进行了流行病学调查,在79个规模化猪场采集的248份病料样品中有172份样品为PBoV阳性。其中,对4个发生腹泻疫情的规模化猪场进行了分群抽样调查,结果显示PBoV在腹泻猪群中的阳性率达到73.95%,并显著高于非腹泻猪群(47.83%)。本研究调查结果显示PBoV在国内猪群中流行广泛而且感染率高。     

High genetic diversity in RdRp gene of Brazilian porcine sapovirus strains

Sapovirus is one genus within Caliciviridae family that causes diarrhea in humans and animals. Sapovirus (SaV) has been classified into seven genogroups (GI to GVII). The GIII, GVI, and GVII, which prototype is Cowden, JJ681, and K7/JP strains, respectively, infect pigs. The objective of this study was to characterize wild-type Brazilian SaV strains from piglet stool samples and determine SaV infection frequency, age distribution and association with diarrheic disease. Stool samples from 113 piglets up to 28-days-old were collected from 34 pig farms located in the States of Minas Gerais (MG), Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC), and Rio Grande do Sul (RS), during 2004 and 2005. The specimens were evaluated for enteric calicivirus by RT-PCR assay with primers p289/290, designed to detect the polymerase gene of SaV and norovirus. Thirty four (30.1%) samples were positive for SaV and five amplicons were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses placed BRA29-MS/04 and BRA52-PR/05 sequences into the GIII of SaV genus. BRA04-SC/04, BRA21-RS/04, and BRA37-MG/05 demonstrated low identity with the Cowden strain but were closely related (up to 86.3%) to the Japanese and Dutch SaV strains, grouping together in a new cluster (GVIII?) in the phylogenetic tree. SaV infection was detected more frequently (p=0.0001) in animals between 22 and 28 days of age, in equal frequencies in piglets with and without diarrhea (p=0.59), and in the five Brazilian States. In this study, such as other unclassified worldwide SaVs, the Brazilian strains showed high genetic variability. Furthermore, the distribution and frequency of SaV infection provides evidence that the virus is circulating in Brazilian pig herds.     

Causes Analysis of Weaning Piglets Diarrhea

To understand the pathogenic causes of weaning diarrhea in Yunnan province,we collected 210 feces and 60 drinking water,a total of 270 samples in 30 farms with weaning diarrhea and analyzed the virus and pathogenic bacteria.The results of the study showed that drinking water was sever polluted by pathogenic Escherichia coli,40 strains of pathogenic Escherichia coli were detected in drinking water,the positive rate was 66.7%,and 100 strains in feces with positive rate of 47.6%;10 strains of pathogenic Salmonella were detected in drinking water,the positive rate was 16.7%,and 24 strains in feces with positive rate of 11.4%,and were sensitive to imipenem.PCR amplified positive rates of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV),porcine circovirous type 2 (PCV2),pseudorabies virus (PRV),classical swine fever virus (CSFV),porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine rotavirus (PoRV) in feces were 5.2% to 13.0%,and they were not detected in drinking water.By analyzing the causes of diarrhea in Yunnan province in weaned piglets analysis,understanding the specific causes of diarrhea in weaned piglets,the results provided a more reasonable and more realistic theoretical basis and experimental reference for prevention and control of the disease from the cause.     

断奶仔猪腹泻病因分析

为了解云南省断奶仔猪腹泻的致病性原因,通过对30个发生断奶仔猪腹泻猪场的210份粪便、60份饮用水,总计270份样品,进行病毒及致病性细菌分析。研究结果表明,致病性大肠杆菌严重污染饮用水,致病性大肠杆菌在饮用水中检出40株,阳性率为66.7%,粪便中检出100株,阳性率47.6%;致病性沙门氏菌在饮用水中检出10株,阳性率为16.7%,粪便中检出24株,阳性率为11.4%,均对亚胺培南敏感。在粪便中猪流行性腹泻病毒(porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)、猪圆环病毒2型(porcine circovirous type 2,PCV2)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(pseudorabies virus,PRV)、猪瘟病毒(classical swine fever virus,CSFV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)及猪轮状病毒(porcine rotavirus,PoRV)的PCR扩增阳性率为5.2%~13.0%,在饮用水中未检出。通过对云南省断奶仔猪腹泻进行病因分析,了解断奶仔猪腹泻的具体原因,本试验结果为从病因入手防制该病提供更合理、更切合实际情况的理论依据与试验参考。     

Parvovirus-like particles associated with diarrhea in unweaned piglets.

Numerous parvovirus-like particles, 18 to 26 nm in diameter, were detected by electron microscopy in the intestinal contents of two to three week old piglets with mild to severe diarrhea, in six Quebec pig herds. Hemagglutination of guinea pig and African green monkey red blood cells was obtained with clarified intestinal contents. Two isolates were found to be antigenically related to porcine and canine parvoviruses, while another differed from the porcine parvovirus using the hemagglutination-inhibition test. Three isolates could be cultivated in cell cultures as demonstrated by the development of a cytopathic effect, hemagglutination activity, immunofluorescence and identification of the virions in the cell culture fluids by electron microscopy. The possibility of a primary etiological role for these parvoviruses in diarrhea of unweaned piglets is discussed.     

Epidemiology of porcine neonatal steatorrhoea in Sweden. 1. Prevalence and clinical significance of coccidal and rotaviral infections

A study of neonatal steatorrhoea in unweaned piglets was carried out in randomly visited herds. Isospora suis and rotavirus were shown to be incriminated in this type of enteric disease and these agents may be considered important enteropathogens for 1-3-week-old piglets in Sweden. More extensive studies of I. suis were undertaken in one large herd. It was found that steatorrhoea may appear in 4-day-old piglets but oocysts were not detected until some days latter. Piglets that were shedding I. suis were not necessarily steatorrhoeic but oocysts were more frequently found in steatorrhoeic faeces than in faeces of normal consistency. The earliest oocyst output was detected at 5 days of age, the average litterage at first appearance being 12.8 +/- 4.0 days. The occurrence of I. suis oocysts in piglets did not correlate with the oocyst output in sows, which almost exclusively included genus Eimeria. Repeated parasitological and virological examination of steatorrhoeic faecal samples from 5-10 litters per herd at an age of 1-3 weeks would be helpful for making a herd diagnosis.