Multisystemic lymphoplasmacytic inflammation associated with PCV‐3 in wasting pigs

Abstract

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has been detected in diseased and healthy pigs of different ages. Several reports have associated the agent with reproductive failure and mummified and stillborn piglets. One report from North America has proposed a consistent potential association with postweaning disorders. Thus, the present case report aimed to describe the histopathological lesions and their association with the presence of PCV-3 genome in postweaning pigs showing growth-retardation and thrown-back ears. All affected animals displayed multi-organic lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis, lymphocytic myocarditis and/or lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis. PCV-3 genetic material was detected by in situ hybridization within the lesions and confirmed by PCV-3 real-time quantitative PCR detection in tissues. This study represents the first report of PCV-3 associated with clinical disease in postweaning pigs in Europe.

Recent Progress on Epidemiology and Pathobiology of Porcine Circovirus 3

“…PCV3 was first detected in pigs with cardiac and multisystemic inflammation [4]. Thereafter, numerous pieces of evidence proved that PCV3 is associated with multiorgan lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis, lymphocytic myocarditis, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis, and/or PDNS [16,73,74]. Alomar et al reported the investigation of PCV3-infected pigs and found that there were no obvious gross lesions in viscera, but multiorganic moderate to severe lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis and arteritis were observed in artery, heart, kidney, spleen, portal arteriole, meninges, lung, and/or stomach, characterized by inflammatory infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes [16].…”

“…Thereafter, numerous pieces of evidence proved that PCV3 is associated with multiorgan lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis, lymphocytic myocarditis, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis, and/or PDNS [16,73,74]. Alomar et al reported the investigation of PCV3-infected pigs and found that there were no obvious gross lesions in viscera, but multiorganic moderate to severe lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis and arteritis were observed in artery, heart, kidney, spleen, portal arteriole, meninges, lung, and/or stomach, characterized by inflammatory infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes [16]. Furthermore, the connective tissue and adventitia around the artery intima were destroyed by inflammatory infiltration, smooth muscle cells showed mild to severe vacuolation and loss of cytoplasmic boundary, endothelial cells expanded into the lumen, and leukocytes adhered to the endothelium [16].…”

“…Alomar et al reported the investigation of PCV3-infected pigs and found that there were no obvious gross lesions in viscera, but multiorganic moderate to severe lymphoplasmacytic periarteritis and arteritis were observed in artery, heart, kidney, spleen, portal arteriole, meninges, lung, and/or stomach, characterized by inflammatory infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes [16]. Furthermore, the connective tissue and adventitia around the artery intima were destroyed by inflammatory infiltration, smooth muscle cells showed mild to severe vacuolation and loss of cytoplasmic boundary, endothelial cells expanded into the lumen, and leukocytes adhered to the endothelium [16]. Moreover, mild meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, interstitial pneumonia, nephritis, periportal hepatitis, rhinitis, and periarteritis characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration were observed in several sick pigs [16].…”

“…Furthermore, the connective tissue and adventitia around the artery intima were destroyed by inflammatory infiltration, smooth muscle cells showed mild to severe vacuolation and loss of cytoplasmic boundary, endothelial cells expanded into the lumen, and leukocytes adhered to the endothelium [16]. Moreover, mild meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, interstitial pneumonia, nephritis, periportal hepatitis, rhinitis, and periarteritis characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration were observed in several sick pigs [16]. These results suggest that lymphoplasmacytic infiltration is the main feature of multisystemic inflammation in PCV3-infected pigs.…”

“…[1,2,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], indicating that the virus spreads worldwide. Numerous groups reported that PCV3 infection can lead to mild to severe diseases in pig herds [13,[15][16][17][18][19]. Furthermore, it has been reported that PCV3 exists in animals under different clinical conditions, including pigs, wild boar, and other animals.…”