Seroprevalence of porcine circovirus type 2 in swine populations in Canada and Costa Rica

Porcine circovirus (PCV) was recently divided into 2 antigenically distinct types that differ (65% amino acid identity) in the protein encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2). Porcine circovirus 1 is apparently non-pathogenic and, in contrast, PCV2 is associated with porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Our objective was to determine the extent of exposure of normal pigs in Canada and Costa Rica to PCV2. Recombinant DNA techniques were used to produce an antigen from ORF2 of PCV2 that was suitable for the detection of antibody in swine sera. The presence of PCV2 nucleotide sequences was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Using these tests, specific antibody and nucleotide sequences were demonstrated in sera from a cohort of pigs during a PMWS outbreak. Antibody was detected in normal, healthy hogs slaughtered in Canada (82.4% of 386) and in Costa Rica (14.6% of 322). This is the first report indicating the presence of PCV2 in Latin America. More than 50% of these sera also contained PCV2 nucleotide sequence. Although these hogs were healthy when slaughtered, they were infected with PCV2 and may have previously been ill. The widespread occurrence of PCV2 in swine suggests that this virus is adapted to replication in porcine tissue.