Limited susceptibility of three different mouse (Mus musculus) lines to Porcine circovirus-2 infection and associated lesions

Porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), a major global problem for pork producers, is characterized microscopically by depletion and histiocytic replacement of follicles in the lymphoid tissues. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) if Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) inoculated mice (Mus musculus) can develop PCV-2 associated lymphoid lesions and serve as a model for PCVAD, and 2) if differences in PCV-2 host susceptibility exist among mice lines. Three groups (n = 48/group) of 4-wk-old male mice were used: BALB/c, C57BL/6, and C3H/HeJ. A 2 × 2 factorial analysis was designed for each group using PCV-2 inoculation and keyhole limpet hemocyanin in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant injections on day 0 and 7 as factors. Necropsies were performed on days 12, 17, 22, 27, 32, and 37. Serum samples collected at each necropsy tested negative for anti-IgG PCV-2 antibodies in all mice at all time points by 2 different PCV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The PCV-2 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 93% (100/108) of tissues and 42.6% (46/108) of serum samples from PCV-2-inoculated mice from days 12 to 37. Microscopic lesions consistent with PCV-2 infection were not observed in any mice and PCV-2 DNA and PCV-2 antigen were not detected in tissues by in-situ-hybridization or immunohistochemistry assays, respectively. Based on incidence of PCV-2 DNA in serum samples, the C57BL/6 mouse line was more resistant to PCV-2 infection than the other lines. The results indicate the mouse model likely has limited utility to advance understanding of the pathogenesis of PCV-2 associated lesions, but mice could potentially be important in the epidemiology of PCV-2.     

Genetic typing of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) isolates from Slovakia

Of 120 clinical specimens obtained from pigs bred on 28 PMWS-affected farms in Slovakia, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) was detected by single PCR in 77 samples. A short 224 bp fragment of ORF2 was used for preliminary grouping of isolates by phylogenetic analysis. Nucleotide sequences of the entire ORF2 region provided more precise genetic typing and segregation of preselected isolates (n = 10) into two known genotypes, PCV-2a (n = 1) and PCV-2b (n = 9). Complete genome sequencing of three selected isolates allowed their definitive grouping into genotype PCV-2b, cluster 1A or genotype PCV-2a, cluster 2D. No correlation between the mutations and the geographic origin of isolates was observed. Results confirmed that many PCV-2 isolates are genetically very stable since similar viruses circulate in Central and Western Europe.     

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.     

Evaluation of a nested polymerase chain reaction assay to differentiate between two genotypes of Porcine circovirus-2.

Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) is associated with several diseases in pigs, including postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). A new genotype of PCV-2 was isolated from swine farms with and without clinical PMWS in North America. The new genotype was differentiated in a separate cluster by phylogenetic analyses and is now named PCV-2b compared with PCV-2a for the previously known genotype. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assay to detect and differentiate between PCV-2a and PCV-2b. Genotype-specific primer sets were designed by using sequence data published for different PCV-2 strains. Specificity and sensitivity of the nPCR were examined by using PCV-2 isolates with known genotype. Nested PCR was found to be highly specific and sensitive for detecting and differentiating between the PCV-2 genotypes compared with the conventional 1-step PCR assay. Nested PCR was applied to detect PCV-2 and to identify the genotype in serum samples from swine farms with and without a clinical history of PMWS. Of 60 serum samples collected from 4 farms during clinical PMWS outbreaks, PCV-2a and PCV-2b were detected in 6 and 49 samples, respectively. Six of the 10 samples from one of the 4 farms had both PCV-2a and PCV-2b. Of 20 serum samples from 2 farms without PMWS, 11 were positive for PCV-2a only. These results suggest that the differential nPCR can be used to detect PCV-2 and to differentiate the 2 genotypes from field samples.     

Detection of Porcine Circovirus Type 2, Porcine Parvovirus and Porcine Pseudorabies Virus from Pigs with Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome by Multiplex PCR

Multiplex PCR was established to detect porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) and applied to samples from 137 piglets exhibiting clinical signs of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). PCV-2 DNA was detected from all samples. Moreover, 43 samples were positive for PPV but negative for PRV; 11 samples were positive for PRV but negative for PPV; and 35 samples were positive both for PPV and PRV. These results suggests that PCV-2 co-infection with PRV and PPV may play an important role in PMWS. Also, multiplex PCR is an appropriate candidate method for diagnosis of PCV-2, PRV and PPV simultaneously in field cases.     

FRRSV和PCV-2双重PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根据猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)美洲型标准株(ATCCVR-2332)的ORF7保守序列和猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)(AF381175)的ORF2基因保守序列,设计合成了两对特异性引物。用这两对引物,通过优化的PCR条件,对PRRSV阳性毒株反转录后的cDNA模板和PCV-2毒株的DNA模板进行双重PCR扩增,同时得到两条与试验设计相符的432bp(PRRSV)和630bp(PCV-2)特异性条带,建立了同时检测PRRSV和PCV-2的双重PCR方法。并用此方法对在安徽省不同地区所采集的72头份病猪的淋巴结、肺、肝、脾、肾等组织进行检测,证明建立的PCR方法可用于临床诊断。     

First evidence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) infection of pigs in the Czech Republic by semi-nested PCR

Three oligonucleotide primers for semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were designed according to already published sequences of porcine circovirus types 1 (PCV-1) and 2 (PCV-2) isolates. These primers were used to detect PCV-2 DNA. A positive amplification reaction was visualized from a DNA suspension containing as few as 10 copies of virus DNA. In total. 77 samples of inguinal lymph nodes and nasal swabs from pigs in the Czech Republic were used to detect the virus. Thirty-seven of them were positive for PCV-2 DNA. In order to confirm specificity of the PCR reaction, seven DNA fragments were sequenced. Czech PCV sequences were found to have a 92-97% homology with other known PCV-2 strains and only 80-83% homology with PCV-1 strains.     

猪圆环病毒2型PCR检测方法的建立及其在临床检测中的应用

选择猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)基因保守区设计1对引物P1和P2,扩增536 bp的片段,该方法可以特异地检测出PCV-2的DNA,而对猪细小病毒、猪瘟病毒、猪伪狂犬病毒及未接PCV-2的PK-15细胞均呈阴性;该法能检测出29 ng/L的病毒DNA。对扩增片段进行测序,结果表明扩增片段属于PCV-2。应用该方法对2008年度上海及周边地区送检的91份临床样本进行了PCV-2的检测,结果表明,阳性样本为52份,阳性率为57.14%。研究结果表明,建立的PCR方法检测PCV-2具有较好的敏感性和特异性,可用于PCV-2感染疑似病例的诊断及其分子流行病学调查。     

Evaluation of PCR methods for detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella</Emphasis> strains from culture and tissues

The genus Brucella causes significant economic losses due to infertility, abortion, stillbirth or weak calves, and neonatal mortality in livestock. Brucellosis is still a zoonosis of public health importance worldwide. The study was aimed to optimize and evaluate PCR assays used for the diagnosis of Brucella infections. For this aim, several primers and PCR protocols were performed and compared with Brucella cultures and biological material inoculated with Brucella. In PCR assays, genus- or species-specific oligonucleotide primers derived from 16S rRNA sequences (F4/R2, Ba148/928, IS711, BruP6-P7) and OMPs (JPF/JPR, 31ter/sd) of Brucella were used. All primers except for BruP6-P7 detected the DNA from reference Brucella strains and field isolates. In spiked blood, milk, and semen samples, F4-R2 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. In spiked serum and fetal stomach content, Ba148/928 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. Field samples collected from sheep and cattle were examined by bacteriological methods and optimized PCR assays. Overall, sensitivity of PCR assays was found superior to conventional bacteriological isolation. Brucella DNA was detected in 35.1, 1.1, 24.8, 5.0, and 8.0% of aborted fetus, blood, milk, semen, and serum samples by PCR assays, respectively. In conclusion, PCR assay in optimized conditions was found to be valuable in sensitive and specific detection of Brucella infections of animals.     

The emergence of porcine circovirus 2b genotype (PCV-2b) in swine in Canada

Since late 2004, the swine industry in the province of Quebec has experienced a significant increase in death rate related to postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). To explain this phenomenon, 2 hypotheses were formulated: 1) the presence of a 2nd pathogen could be exacerbating the porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) infection, or 2) a new and more virulent PCV-2 strain could be infecting swine. In 2005, 13 PMWS cases were submitted to the Quebec provincial diagnostic laboratory and PCV-2 was the only virus that could be found consistently by PCR in all 13 samples. The PCR detection results obtained for other viruses revealed the following: 61.5% were positive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, 30.8% for swine influenza virus, 15.4% for porcine parvovirus, 69.2% for swine torque teno virus (swTTV), 38.5% for swine hepatitis E virus (swHEV) and 84.6% for Mycoplasma hyorhinis; transmissible gastroenteritis virus and porcine respiratory coronavirus (TGEV/PRCV) was not detected. Sequences of the entire genome revealed that these PCV-2 strains belonged to a genotype (named PCV-2b) that has never been reported in Canada. Further sequence analyses on 83 other Canadian PCV-2 positive cases submitted to the provincial diagnostic laboratory during years 2005 and 2006 showed that 79.5% of the viral sequences obtained clustered in the PCV-2b genotype. The appearance of the PCV-2b genotype in Canada may explain the death rate increase related to PMWS, but this relationship has to be confirmed.     

Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing for detection of ovine herpesvirus 2 in American bison (Bison bison).

Serum samples were collected at slaughter from 226 24-30-month-old ranch-raised, clinically normal American bison (Bison bison) bulls from North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, and Manitoba to assess the presence of antibodies to ovine herpesvirus 2 (OHV-2). Antibodies to OHV-2 were detected by competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 10 of 226 (4.40%) samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of sera positive for OHV-2 DNA demonstrated a 238 kilobase fragment. The nucleotide sequence of the PCR-positive samples in comparison to the reported OHV-2 nucleotide sequence resulted in a homology range of 82.8-95.4%.     

检测PRV野毒株、PCV-2及PPV多重PCR方法的建立及初步应用

根据GenBank中的猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)gE、猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)ORF2、猪细小病毒(PPV)VP2基因序列,设计了3对引物,成功建立了检测PRV野毒株、PCV-2和PPV的多重PCR诊断方法,扩增产物分别为288 bp、419 bp、681 bp。敏感性、特异性试验结果显示,该PCR对3种病毒的最低核酸检测量分别为PRV 48.2 pg/L、PCV-2 36.7 pg/L、PPV 0.25 ng/L,而PRV(gE基因缺失株)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、大肠杆菌的扩增结果均为阴性。对87份自然感染病猪样品的检测结果表明,该多重PCR检测结果与单一PCR检测结果完全符合。结果表明,该多重PCR方法具有很好的特异性和敏感性,可用于临床PRV野毒株和gE基因缺失疫苗株、PCV-2和PPV的检测。     

青海省部分地区猪圆环病毒2型感染的血清学调查

应用猪圆环病毒2型抗体酶联免疫检测试剂盒,测定了青海省省内8个猪场的1 000个血清样本,对不同地区、不同年龄猪的进行了血清学调查.结果显示,青海省8个猪场均有猪圆环病毒2型( PCV-2)感染,全省猪的PCV-2感染的平均血清阳性率为25.9％,其中母猪、种公猪、生长育肥猪、保育猪及哺乳仔猪抗体阳性率分别35.3％、...     

Porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus (Gammaherpesvirinae) DNA in free-living wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Brazil

BackgroundSuid gammaherpesvirus 3, 4, and 5 (porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus – PLHV-1, -2, and -3) are viruses that infect domestic and feral pigs.ObjectivesThis study examined the presence of PLHV DNA in biological samples from free-living wild boars circulating in a Brazilian geographical region with a high density of commercial domestic pigs.MethodsLung samples of 50 free-living wild boars were collected by exotic wildlife controller agents between 2017 and 2019 in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Lung and spleen fragments were obtained from six fetuses collected by hysterectomy post mortem from a pregnant sow. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using consensus primers (pan-herpesviruses) was performed to detect PLHV DNA. The samples showing positive results for PLHV DNA were submitted to single-round PCR assays with the specific primers for identifying PLHV-1 (213-S/215-As), PLHV-2 (208-S/212-As), and PLHV-3 (886s/886As). The specificity of the species-specific PCR products was assessed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons.ResultsForty-eight (96%) of the 50 lung samples analyzed were positive for PLHV by PCR using pan-herpesvirus primers. In 33 (68.75%) of the positive samples, at least two PLHV species were identified simultaneously. The DNA of PLHV-1, -2, and -3 was found in free-living wild boars of all ages, but not in the fetuses, even though they were from a sow that tested positive for all three viruses.ConclusionThese viruses are endemic to the population of feral pigs in the Brazilian region evaluated, as well as in domesticated pigs.     

Development and use of real-time PCR to detect and quantify Mycoplasma haemocanis and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” in dogs

Two canine haemoplasma species have been recognised to date; Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc), which has been associated with anaemia in splenectomised or immunocompromised dogs, and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” (CMhp), recently described in an anaemic splenectomised dog undergoing chemotherapy. The study aim was to develop quantitative real-time PCR assays (qPCRs) incorporating an endogenous internal control to detect Mhc and CMhp and to apply these assays to DNA samples extracted from canine blood collected in Northern Tanzania (n = 100) and from dogs presented to a Trinidadian veterinary hospital (n = 185).QPCRs specific for Mhc and CMhp were designed using 16S rRNA gene sequence data, and each was duplexed with an assay specific for canine glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The assays detected ≤10 copies of a sequence-specific haemoplasma plasmid per reaction and neither assay showed cross-reactivity with 10⁶ copies of the sequence-specific plasmid from the non-target canine haemoplasma species.Nineteen of the 100 Tanzanian samples (19%) were positive for Mhc alone and one (1%) was dually infected. One Trinidadian sample was negative for canine GAPDH DNA and was excluded from the study. Of the 184 remaining Trinidadian samples, nine (4.9%) were positive for Mhc alone, five (2.7%) for CMhp alone, and two (1.1%) dually infected.This is the first report of canine haemoplasma qPCR assays that use an internal control to confirm the presence of amplifiable sample DNA, and their application to prevalence studies. Mhc was the most commonly detected canine haemoplasma species.     

Detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA by nested PCR from formalin-fixed tissues of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) pigs in Thailand

A retrospective study for the detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA was conducted by nested PCR method in 16 cases of swine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Thailand. Histopathology showed characteristic lesions of PMWS and intracytoplasmic viral inclusion bodies in macrophages infiltrating in lymphoid tissues. PCV-2 DNA was detected from formalin-fixed and/or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from all pigs with PMWS. The amplified products were digested with Hae III.     

采用PCR方法对猪场猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖障碍与呼吸道综合征病毒、猪圆环病毒2型混合感染的诊断研究

采用猪瘟-猪繁殖障碍与呼吸道综合征病毒(CSFV-PRRSV)多重PCR诊断试剂盒和猪圆环病毒2 型(PCV 2)PCR诊断试剂盒对来自河南省不同地区的6个规模猪场送检的60份临床疑似病料进行了病原学PCR检测。结果表明：60份样品中CSFV、PRRSV、PCV-2感染的阳性率分别为38.3%、30%和43.3%；3种病毒共感染样品数目占所有样品的13.3%，CSFV PCV-2双感染的比例最高，达到31.7%，PRRSV-PCV-2双感染比例为18.3%，而CSFV-PRRSV双感染比例只有15%。自感染猪内脏器官和血清中均能成功检测出病毒。本研究结果表明PCR诊断可作为临床上这3种病的病原学快速、灵敏的诊断方法，并为猪场猪瘟、猪繁殖障碍与呼吸道综合征、猪圆环病毒2型3种病的流行病学和检测方法的研究奠定了一定的基础。     

猪链球菌2型及其毒力因子检测多重PCR的建立与应用

根据相关文献设计并合成引物，建立了能同时检测猪链球菌2型（cps）及其重要毒力因子溶菌酶释放蛋白（mrp）和细胞外因子（epf）的多重PCR方法。目的片段的大小分别为885bp（mrp）、675bp（cps）和443bp（epf）。对参考菌株、人工攻毒病料和临床收集病料的检测结果显示，该多重PCR特异性强、敏感性高，可直接从临床病料中检测出猪链球菌2型，并能鉴定其毒力因子表型。     

Application of touchdown enzyme time release (TETR)-PCR for diagnosis of Chlamydophila abortus infection

Chlamydophila abortus-DNA was detected using a touchdown enzyme time-release (TETR)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay as an improved test for sensitive and rapid diagnosis of abortion in small ruminants. Two hundred and fifty two placentae, liver or spleen tissue samples from aborting ewes and goats or aborted lambs and kids in which C. abortus infection was suspected were examined by TETR-PCR and the results were compared with cell culture. Sixty-five tissue samples were found to be TETR-PCR positive while only 56 samples were cell culture-positive. After resolution of discrepant samples with a confirmatory nested PCR assay, TETR-PCR had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99.5% while culture had a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 100%. The analytical sensitivity of the TETR-PCR assay was determined with DNA extracted from 4-fold serial dilution of C. abortus B577 culture and found to be 0.25 inclusion-forming unit per PCR. No reduction in the analytical sensitivity was noted when the assay was tested with mouse liver samples spiked with 4-fold serial dilution of C. abortus B577 culture. No target product was amplified when DNA from Chlamydophila pecorum was tested. TETR-PCR used in this study is a practical, rapid, sensitive and specific assay that could be used for the detection of C. abortus in infected tissue samples. We recommend the use of this assay as a supplemental diagnostic tool for detection of C. abortus in infected tissue samples.     

Bovine cysticercosis—Development of a real-time PCR to enhance classification of suspect cysts identified at meat inspection

Laboratory confirmation methods are important in bovine cysticerosis diagnosis as other pathologies can result in morphologically similar lesions resulting in false identifications. We developed a probe-based real-time PCR assay to identify Taenia saginata in suspect cysts encountered at meat inspection and compared its use with the traditional method of identification, histology, as well as a published nested PCR. The assay simultaneously detects T. saginata DNA and a bovine internal control using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of each species and shows specificity against parasites causing lesions morphologically similar to those of T. saginata. The assay was sufficiently sensitive to detect 1 fg (Ct 35.09 ± 0.95) of target DNA using serially-diluted plasmid DNA in reactions spiked with bovine DNA as well as in all viable and caseated positive control cysts. A loss in PCR sensitivity was observed with increasing cyst degeneration as seen in other molecular methods. In comparison to histology, the assay offered greater sensitivity and accuracy with 10/19 (53%) T. saginata positives detected by real-time PCR and none by histology. When the results were compared with the reference PCR, the assay was less sensitive but offered advantages of faster turnaround times and reduced contamination risk. Estimates of the assay's repeatability and reproducibility showed the assay is highly reliable with reliability coefficients greater than 0.94.