Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary pneumocystosis and concurrent infections in pigs in Jeju Island, Korea |
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Authors: | Ki-Seung Kim Ji-Youl Jung Jae-Hoon Kim Sang-Chul Kang Eui-Kyung Hwang Bong-Kyun Park Dae-Yong Kim Jae-Hoon Kim |
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Institution: | 1College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea.;2College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sangji University, Wonju 220-702, Korea.;3College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. |
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Abstract: | Epidemiological characteristics of swine pulmonary Pneumocystis (P.) carinii and concurrent infections were surveyed on Jeju Island, Korea, within a designated period in 172 pigs submitted from 54 farms to the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University. The submitted cases were evaluated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, PCR/RT-PCR, and bacteriology. P. carinii infection was confirmed in 39 (22.7%) of the 172 pigs. Histopathologically, the lungs had moderate to severe lymphohistioctyic interstitial pneumonia with variable numbers of fungal organisms within lesions. Furthermore, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) co-infection was a common phenomenon (12.8%, 20.5%, and 48.7% were positive for PRRS, PCV-2, or both, respectively, as determined by PCR/RT-PCR). Infection was much more concentrated during winter (December to March) and 53.8% of the infected pigs were 7- to 8-weeks old. In addition, three pigs showed co-infection with bacteria such as Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus suis. The results of the present study suggest that the secondary P. carinii infection is common following primary viral infection in swine in Korea. They further suggest that co-infection of P. carinii might be enhanced by the virulence of primary pathogens or might have synergistic effects in the pigs with chronic wasting diseases. |
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Keywords: | concurrent infection P carinii PCV-2 pig PRRSV |
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