Mitochondrial Localization Signal of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Capsid Protein Plays a Critical Role in Cap-Induced Apoptosis

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), considered one of the most globally important porcine pathogens, causes postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). This virus is localized in the mitochondria in pigs with PMWS. Here, we identified, for the first time, a mitochondrial localization signal (MLS) in the PCV2 capsid protein (Cap) at the N-terminus. PK-15 cells showed colocalization of the MLS-EGFP fusion protein with mitochondria. Since the PCV2 Cap also contained a nuclear localization signal (NLS) that mediated entry into the nucleus, we inferred that the subcellular localization of the PCV2 Cap is inherently complex and dependent on the viral life cycle. Furthermore, we also determined that deletion of the MLS attenuated Cap-induced apoptosis. More importantly, the MLS was essential for PCV2 replication, as absence of the MLS resulted in failure of virus rescue from cells infected with infectious clone DNA. In conclusion, the MLS of the PCV2 Cap plays critical roles in Cap-induced apoptosis, and MLS deletion of Cap is lethal for virus rescue.

An epidemiological investigation of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine circovirus type 3 infections in Tianjin, North China

Novel porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), first identified in the United States, has been detected in many other countries. Porcine circovirus is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, reproductive failure, congenital tremors, and other clinical symptoms. In this study, we established a double polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting both porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and PCV3. This is the first study to detect and characterize the PCV3 genome in the Tianjin region of North China. We collected a total of 169 tissue samples from seven farms between 2016 and 2018. The PCV3-positive rate of all tissue samples was 37.3% (63/169) and the rate of PCV2 and PCV3 coinfection was 14.8% (25/169). PCV2 and PCV3 coinfections with more serious clinical symptoms were found in only three farms. We sequenced three PCV3 strains selected from tissue samples that were positively identified. The complete genome sequences of the three strains shared 97.6–99.4% nucleotide identities with the PCV3 strains in GenBank. Our results showed the extent of PCV3’s spread in Tianjin, and the need to further study PCV3’s pathobiology, epidemiology, isolation, and coinfection.

Seroprevalence of Porcine Circovirus-2 in Domestic Pigs (Sus Scrofa Domestica) in Latvia

Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV2) is the primary agent of Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), and is associated with Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease, which causes great economic losses in pig breeding. PCV2 infection is distributed worldwide throughout the domestic pig population. There have not been any investigations on the distribution of PCV2 sero-prevalence in the population of pigs in Latvia. However PCV2 is one of main differential infections for many diseases, and therefore it is very variable in clinical presentation of PMWS and other diseases associated with PCV2. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of PCV2 in pigs of different-scale farms located in different regions of Latvia. Blood samples of 963 pigs from 58 different-scale farms were examined for the PCV2 antibody from 2006 to 2016. It can be suggested that PCV2 is widespread within the territory of Latvia. Farms with pig number of up to 10 and farms with more than 5000 animals have different levels of biosafety, housing conditions and herd management. Nevertheless, the study showed that the number of PCV2-seropositive animals is similar in all farms (from 70.0% to 79.7%).

Isolation and identification of biological characteristics of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) from pigs in southern Vietnam

This study aimed to isolate and examine the biological characteristics of PCV2 field strains circulating in Vietnam for further study in producing vaccine against PMWS (postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome). Eighteen PCV2 strains were successfully isolated and belonged to genotype PCV2b (9 strains), PCV2d (6 strains) and recombinant (3 strains). The viral titers of PCV2 isolates at the third passages in PK15A cells were in the range from 1.67 to 5,50 log10TCID50/mL. Three PCV2 field strains with stable viral titers (≥ 5,0 log10TCID50/mL) through passages, which belonged to different genotypes, were selected as master seed for studying of PCV2 vaccines

Global Status ofPorcine circovirusType 2 and Its Associated Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Globally,Porcine circovirustype 2 (PCV2) is a recognized viral pathogen of great economic value in pig farming. It is the major cause of ravaging postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and many other disease syndromes generally regarded asPorcine circovirusassociated diseases (PCVAD) in Europe. PCV2 infections, specifically PMWS, had impacted huge economic loss on swine production at different regions of the world. It has been studied and reported at different parts of the globe including: North and South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Middle East, and the Caribbean. However, till date, this virus and its associated diseases have been grossly understudied in sub-Sahara African region and the entire continent at large. Two out of forty-nine, representing just about 4% of countries that make up sub-Sahara Africa presently, have limited records on reported cases and occurrence of the viral pathogen despite the ubiquitous nature of the virus. This review presents an overview of the discovery ofPorcine circovirusand its associated diseases in global pig herds and emphasizes the latest trends in PCV2 vaccines and antiviral drugs development and the information gaps that exist on the occurrence of this important viral pathogen in swine herds of sub-Saharan Africa countries. This will serve as wake-up call for immediate and relevant actions by stakeholders in the region.

A Novel Porcine Circovirus Distantly Related to Known Circoviruses Is Associated with Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome and Reproductive Failure

ABSTRACT Porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD) is clinically manifested by postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), respiratory and enteric disease, reproductive failure, and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is an essential component of PCVAD, although an etiologic role in PDNS is not well established. Here, a novel circovirus, designated porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3), was identified in sows that died acutely with PDNS-like clinical signs. The capsid and replicase proteins of PCV3 are only 37% and 55% identical to PCV2 and bat circoviruses, respectively. Aborted fetuses from sows with PDNS contained high levels of PCV3 (7.57 × 107 genome copies/ml), and no other viruses were detected by PCR and metagenomic sequencing. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of sow tissue samples identified PCV3 antigen in skin, kidney, lung, and lymph node samples localized in typical PDNS lesions, including necrotizing vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Further study of archived PDNS tissue samples that were negative for PCV2 by IHC analysis identified 45 of 48 that were PCV3 positive by quantitative PCR (qPCR), with 60% of a subset also testing positive for PCV3 by IHC analysis. Analysis by qPCR of 271 porcine respiratory disease diagnostic submission samples identified 34 PCV3-positive cases (12.5%), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection of anti-PCV3 capsid antibodies in serum samples found that 46 (55%) of 83 samples tested were positive. These results suggest that PCV3 commonly circulates within U.S. swine and may play an etiologic role in reproductive failure and PDNS. Because of the high economic impact of PCV2, this novel circovirus warrants further studies to elucidate its significance and role in PCVAD. IMPORTANCE While porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) was first identified in sporadic cases of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in Canada in the early 1990s, an epidemic of severe systemic disease due to PCV2 spread worldwide in the ensuing decade. Despite being effectively controlled by commercial vaccines, PCV2 remains one of the most economically significant viruses of swine. Here, a novel porcine circovirus (PCV3) that is distantly related to known circoviruses was identified in sows with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) and reproductive failure. PCV2, which has previously been associated with these clinical presentations, was not identified. High levels of PCV3 nucleic acid were observed in aborted fetuses by quantitative PCR, and PCV3 antigen was localized in histologic lesions typical of PDNS in sows by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis. PCV3 was also identified in archival PDNS diagnostic samples that previously tested negative for PCV2 by IHC analysis. The emergence of PCV3 warrants further investigation.

COMPLETE GENOME SEQUENCE OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 UKRAINIAN ISOLATES

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is associated with distinct syndromes and diseases in swine, collectively known as porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), which include postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), PCV2-associated pneumonia as a part of the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), PCV2-associated enteritis, PCV2-associated reproductive failure, and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) (1–3). PCV2-infection is widespread and essentially all pig herds are infected with PCV2. Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), a member of the genus Circovirus in the family Circoviridae, is a very small single-stranded negative-sense DNA virus of approximately 1.7 kb (4). The genome of PCV2 encodes three major open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the replicase proteins (ORF1), the viral capsid protein (ORF2), and a protein with suggested apoptotic activity (ORF3) (5). Previous reports showed that there were five PCV2 genotypes, including PCV2a, PCV2b, PCV2c, PCV2d, and PCV2e (6– 9). Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Ukrainian PCV2 isolates from different regions of Ukraine.