Seroprevalence of porcine torovirus (PToV) in Spanish farms

Abstract

BackgroundTorovirus infections have been associated with gastroenteritis and diarrhea in horses, cows, pigs and humans, especially in young animals and in children. Although asymptomatic in a large percentage of cases, however toroviruses may pose a potential threat to worsen disease outcome in concurrent infections with other enteric pathogens. Previous studies based on the analysis of limited numbers of samples indicated high seroprevalences against porcine torovirus (PToV) in various European countries. The aim of this work was to perform a seroepidemiological survey of PToV in Spanish farms in order to define the seroprevalence against this virus.ResultsSerum samples (n = 2664) from pigs of different ages were collected from 100 Spanish farms coming from 10 regions that concentrate 96.1% of the 3392 farms with 80 or more sows censused in Spain. Samples were screened by means of an indirect enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) based on a recombinant PToV nucleocapsid protein as antigen. The analysis of the whole serum collection yielded a total of 95.7% (2550/2664) seropositive samples. The highest prevalence (99.6%, 1382/1388) and ELISA values (average O.D. ± standard deviation) were observed in the sows (1.03±0.36) and the lowest prevalence (59.4%, 98/165) and anti-PToV IgG levels (0.45±0.16) were found amongst 3-week-old piglets. Both ELISA reactivity values and seroprevalence percentages rose quickly with piglet’s age from 3 to 11 weeks of age; the seroprevalence was 99.3% (2254/2270) when only the samples from sows and pigs over 11-weeks of age were considered. Antibodies against PToV were detected in all analyzed farms.ConclusionsThis report describes the results of the largest torovirus seroepidemiological survey in farmed swine performed so far. Overall, the seroprevalence against PToV in animals older than 11 weeks of age was >99%, indicating that this virus is endemic in pig herds from Spain.

Transcriptional and Translational Landscape of Equine Torovirus

“…Approximately 55% of cattle within the United Kingdom are seropositive for bovine torovirus, and this pathogen represents a significant burden to the industry ( 2 , 3 ). Similarly, porcine torovirus is endemic to Europe and causes disease in production herds ( 4 – 6 ). Despite this, limited research has been conducted on these pathogens, and neither specific antiviral treatments nor vaccines are available.…”

Porcine Torovirus (PToV)—A Brief Review of Etiology, Diagnostic Assays and Current Epidemiology

“…Another epidemiological study in Spanish farms was done in 2012, with serum samples collected from 100 farms tested by N protein ELISA, revealing a total seroprevalence of 95.7% (2550/2664) and prevalence at different ages ranging from 59.4 to 99.6%. The lowest seroprevalence was detected in 3-week-old piglets (98/165) (45).…”

Molecular epidemiology of Porcine torovirus (PToV) in Sichuan Province, China: 2011–2013

“…District Name Nucleotide substitutions 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 2 3 3 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 0 0 1 1 1 3 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 7 9 8 1 7 2 0 1 9 3 5 4 3 6 2 5 8 3 6 9 2 4 7 3 6 8 0 Table 4); 26 of which were commonly mutated sites (at nucleotide positions 17,18,27,39,72,121,276,288,306,495,512,513,537,552,561,579,618,633,636,652,654,657,663,666,678,690) in the gene M nucleotide sequence. The Sichuan strains had three common amino-acid substitutions(Y 6 → F, N 171 → S, N 181 → S), while the rest were silent mutations.…”