Molecular detection and genetic diversity of porcine circovirus type 3 in commercial pig farms in Xinjiang province, China

Abstract

IntroductionPorcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a newly discovered porcine circovirus. The molecular characteristics and genetic evolution of PCV3 in Xinjiang province, China still being unclear, the aim of the study was their elucidation.Material and MethodsA total of 393 clinical samples were collected from pigs on commercial farms in nine different regions of Xinjiang and phylogenetic analysis based on full-length Cap genes was performed.ResultsThe prevalence at farm level was 100%, while in all the tested samples it was 22.39%. Nine PCV3 strains were detected in Xinjiang province and they shared 98.9–99.3% nucleotide and 97.5–100.0% Cap gene amino acid sequence identities with other epidemic strains from China and abroad. Compared with other epidemic strains of PCV3, there were 26 base mutation sites in the Cap gene in the nine Xinjiang strains, resulting in the mutation of amino acids at positions 20, 24, 75, 77, 108, 111 and 206. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these strains can be divided into two different genetic groups, to the first of which five strains affiliated and divided between subgroups 1.1 and 1.2, and to the second of which the other four strains affiliated and similarly divided between subgroups 2.1 and 2.2.ConclusionPCV3 circulates widely among commercial pig farms in Xinjiang province, China, and displays obvious genetic diversity. The results provide epidemiological information useful for the prevention and control of PCV3 infection in the pig industry.

Genetic diversity of porcine circovirus 3 strains and the first detection of two different PCV3 strains coinfecting the same host in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Considering the fact that Cap is the major structural protein and main antigen of PCV3 [21], it is important to analyze amino acid mutations in the Cap protein. The amino acid mutations observed in the PCV3 Cap protein suggest that different PCV3 strains are circulating in Brazilian swine farms.…”

The PCV3 Cap Virus-like Particle Vaccine with the Chimeric PCV2-Neutralizing Epitope Gene Is Effective in Mice

“…The role of ORF3 in PCV3 remains unclear. Although the homology of amino acids between PCV3 Rep and PCV2 Rep is approximately 48%, the homology of the Cap is as low as approximately 26% [ 7 , 8 ]. The Cap is crucial for the antigenic properties of PCV2 and PCV3 and plays a pivotal role in activating immune response.…”