Prevalence of Infection with Porcine Circovirus Types 2 and 3 in the Wild Boar Population in the Campania Region (Southern Italy).

Maria Grazia Amoroso,Barbara Cioffi,Gianmarco Ferrara,Nicola D’Alessio,Francesco Serra,Claudia Esposito,Ugo Pagnini,Giovanna Fusco,Esterina De Carlo,Serena Montagnaro,Antonietta Anzalone

doi:10.3390/ani11113215

Abstract

Simple SummaryA retrospective, large-scale molecular survey was carried out to detect the presence of the PCV-2 and PCV-3 genomes in wild boar samples in the Campania region. A total of 148 samples from wild boars were tested for PCV-2 and PCV-3 by real-time PCR. The combined prevalence was 74.32%. The percentage of coinfected animals was 22.30%.In recent years, porcine circovirus (PCV) infection has been documented as an important and emerging health concern for livestock and wildlife worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to assess the molecular prevalence of PCV-2 and PCV-3 and to clarify the epidemiological role of wild boars in the circulation of this virus in Campania, Southern Italy. For this purpose, samples from several organs were collected during the hunting season 2017–2018 from 148 wild boars in the Campania region. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for the detection and quantification of PCV-2 and PCV-3 genomes. The combined prevalence of PCV-2 and PCV-3 was 74.32% in the wild boars tested. The proportions of wild boars positive for PCV-2 or PCV-3, or coinfected, were 47.30%, 49.32%, and 22.30%, respectively. No link was detected between PCV positivity and location, but gender was a risk factor for the disease (female; p < 0.0001; OR 0.29). Furthermore, our study provides a snapshot of PCV-2 and PCV-3 circulation in wild boars in the Campania region: our findings can help us to better understand the role of wildlife in PCV circulation.

Highlights

Porcine circoviruses (PCVs), genus Circovirus, family Circoviridae, are the smallest non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA viruses, characterized by a circular genome of approximately 2000 nt and icosahedral virions [1].Currently, four species of PCV are known: porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV-1), type 2 (PCV-2), type 3 (PCV-3), and type 4 (PCV-4) [2,3,4,5]
PCV-2 was identified as an etiological agent of PCV-associated disease (PCVD) [7], which comprises postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), pneumonia, porcine dermatitis, nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), and reproductive failure
Harvested wild boars were carried to a central processing site for cleaning, dressing, and sampling procedures; and aliquots of organs were sent to Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy for PCV investigation

Summary

Introduction

Porcine circoviruses (PCVs), genus Circovirus, family Circoviridae, are the smallest non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA viruses, characterized by a circular genome of approximately 2000 nt and icosahedral virions [1].Currently, four species of PCV are known: porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV-1), type 2 (PCV-2), type 3 (PCV-3), and type 4 (PCV-4) [2,3,4,5]. PCV-1 was first detected in 1974 as a contaminant of PK-15 cell culture and is considered innocuous for swine [6]. PCV-2 was identified as an etiological agent of PCV-associated disease (PCVD) [7], which comprises postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), pneumonia, porcine dermatitis, nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), and reproductive failure. It has been demonstrated that only some pigs show clinical signs of PCV-2 infection, whereas other swine show no clinical signs and maintain good performance [8]. To cause disease, PCV-2 requires simultaneous infection with other microorganisms, such as porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae [6]. PCV-2 infection can be subclinical, and it is considered endemic in several countries. PCV-2 infection can be subclinical, and it is considered endemic in several countries. in which it causes large economic losses in the pig industry

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