High prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of porcine astroviruses in domestic pigs

Brnić, Dragan; Jemeršić, Lorena; Keros, Tomislav; Prpić, Jelena

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.08.015

Cited by 32 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Infection with AstV was confirmed to be very frequent (67.4 % of pigs) in domestic pigs in Italy, as reported previously in Croatia (89 %) [43], Germany (20.8 %) [36] and Canada (79.2 %) [44]. AstV was present at all production stages, ranging from 52.2 % in suckling pigs to 81.3 % in weaning pigs, confirming previous findings regarding healthy pigs in other countries [7,44].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Detection and molecular characterization of zoonotic viruses in swine fecal samples in Italian pig herds

et al. 2015

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Gastrointestinal disease is frequent in pigs, and among the different etiological agents involved, viruses are considered the leading cause of infection in this animal species. Furthermore, about half of the newly identified swine pathogens are viruses, many of which may be transmitted to humans by direct contact or by indirect transmission pathways. In this study, the prevalence of astrovirus (AstV), group A rotavirus (RVA), norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in pigs was investigated. During 2012-2014, 242 fecal samples were collected from pigs at different production stages (5 to 220 days old) on eight swine farms located in northern, central and southern Italy. Seven out of eight farms analyzed were positive for AstV, which was detected in 163 out of 242 (67.4%) samples and was the most prevalent virus; 61 of the 163 AstV-positive animals (37.4%) had diarrhea. HEV was detected on six farms and in 45 (18.6%) of the 242 samples analyzed. Twenty-three HEV-infected pigs had diarrhea (51.1%). A lower prevalence was observed for RVA, which was found in 10 of the 242 samples (4.1%) from three positive farms, and diarrhea was present only in six infected pigs (60.0%). No swine samples were found to be positive for NoV. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of some strains representative of the different viruses detected were investigated, confirming a wide heterogeneity of viral strains circulating among pigs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Detection and molecular characterization of zoonotic viruses in swine fecal samples in Italian pig herds

et al. 2015

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“…Molecular tracking of enteric viral markers in the network began by investigating farm sites where their natural hosts reside. RVAs and PoAstVs were detected in swine feces from all farms and revealed extensive genetic diversity of strains consistent with previous publications from Canada and elsewhere (8,9,(36)(37)(38)(39). However, to our knowledge, detection and characterization of viral strains derived from environmental samples has not been thoroughly investigated to date.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Dynamics of Virus Distribution in a Defined Swine Production Network Using Enteric Viruses as Molecular Markers

Lachapelle

Letellier

Fravalo

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Modern swine production systems represent complex and dynamic networks involving numerous stakeholders. For instance, livestock transporters carry live animals between fattening sites, abattoirs, and other premises on a daily basis. This interconnected system may increase the risk of microbial spread within and between networks, although little information is available in that regard. In the present study, a swine network composed of 10 finishing farms, one abattoir, and three types of stakeholders (veterinarians, livestock transporters, and nutritional technicians) in Quebec, Canada, was selected to investigate specific vectors and reservoirs of enteric viruses. Environmental samples were collected from the premises over a 12-month period. Samples were screened using targeted reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing of two selected viral markers, group A rotaviruses (RVA) and porcine astroviruses (PoAstV), both prevalent and genetically heterogeneous swine enteric viruses. The results revealed frequent contamination of farm sites (21.4 to 100%), livestock transporter vehicles (30.6 to 68.8%) and, most importantly, the abattoir yard (46.7 to 94.1%), depending on the sample types. Although high levels of strain diversity for both viruses were found, identical PoAstV and RVA strains were detected in specific samples from farms, the abattoir yard, and the livestock transporter vehicle, suggesting interconnections between these premises and transporters. Overall, the results from this study underscore the potential role of abattoirs and livestock transport as a reservoir and transmission route for enteric viruses within and between animal production networks, respectively. IMPORTANCE Using rotaviruses and astroviruses as markers of enteric contamination in a swine network has revealed the potential role of abattoirs and livestock transporters as a reservoir and vectors of enteric pathogens. The results from this study highlight the importance of tightening biosecurity measures. For instance, implementing sanitary vacancy between animal batches and emphasizing washing, disinfection, and drying procedures on farms and for transportation vehicles, as well as giving limited access and circulation of vehicles throughout the production premises, are some examples of measures that should be applied properly. The results also emphasize the need to closely monitor the dynamics of enteric contamination in the swine industry in order to better understand and potentially prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This is especially relevant when a virulent and economically damaging agent is involved, as seen with the recent introduction of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in the country.

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“…An overall high prevalence of PAstV in pigs has been observed elsewhere, but to our knowledge this study is the first to detect PAstV3 as the dominant type. PAstV3 has been found in USA, Canada, Croatia and East Africa, but only in few of the tested pigs [47,49,[53][54][55] and some of these studies found PAstV3 to be most prevalent in young piglets. Xiao and co-workers found the highest prevalence (4.72-5.3%) of PAstV3 in suckling pigs (0-20 days), and in the study by Luo et al, 2011, PAstV3 was only detected in this age group [47,49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…However, further investigations are needed to confirm if this is the case in all herds. A high overall prevalence of PAstVs has been detected in Croatia (89%), Canada (79.2%), USA (64%), Czech Republic (34.2%) and Germany (20.8%), where the most prevalent PAstV type differs between the countries [47,49,54,56,57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence of enteric viral involvement in the new neonatal porcine diarrhoea syndrome in Danish pigs

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the syndrome New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhoea Syndrome (NNPDS) is associated with a viral aetiology. Four well-managed herds experiencing neonatal diarrhoea and suspected to be affected by NNPDS were included in a case-control set up. A total of 989 piglets were clinically examined on a daily basis. Samples from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets at the age of three to seven days were selected for extensive virological examination using specific real time polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs) and general virus detection methods.ResultsA total of 91.7% of the animals tested positive by reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) for porcine kobuvirus 1 (PKV-1) while 9% and 3% were found to be positive for rotavirus A and porcine teschovirus (PTV), respectively. The overall prevalence of porcine astrovirus (PAstV) was 75% with 69.8% of the PAstV positive pigs infected with PAstV type 3. No animals tested positive for rotavirus C, coronavirus (TGEV, PEDV and PRCV), sapovirus, enterovirus, parechovirus, saffoldvirus, cosavirus, klassevirus or porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Microarray analyses performed on a total of 18 animals were all negative, as were eight animals examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Using Next Generation de novo sequencing (de novo NGS) on pools of samples from case animals within all herds, PKV-1 was detected in four herds and rotavirus A, rotavirus C and PTV were detected in one herd each.ConclusionsOur detailed analyses of piglets from NNPDS-affected herds demonstrated that viruses did not pose a significant contribution to NNPDS. However, further investigations are needed to investigate if a systemic virus infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of NNPDS.

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High prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of porcine astroviruses in domestic pigs

Cited by 32 publications

References 8 publications

Detection and molecular characterization of zoonotic viruses in swine fecal samples in Italian pig herds

Detection and molecular characterization of zoonotic viruses in swine fecal samples in Italian pig herds

Dynamics of Virus Distribution in a Defined Swine Production Network Using Enteric Viruses as Molecular Markers

No evidence of enteric viral involvement in the new neonatal porcine diarrhoea syndrome in Danish pigs

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