Retrospective study of porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) in swine tissue from Brazil (1967-2018)

In this study, we report the molecular diagnosis and retrospective study of porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) in frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded swine tissues (FFPE) collected from 1967 to 2018 in southeastern Brazil (Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states). Frozen tissues from 35 pigs and FFPE tissues from 143 pigs were tested by nested PCR, targeting the PCV3 partial capsid gene. Bidirectional sequencing of 16 positive samples was performed, followed by sequence analysis and haplotype networks. A total of 26/178 samples (14.6%) tested positive for PCV3: 14/35 (40%) frozen tissue and 12/143 (8.4%) FFPE tissue. PCV3 was detected in the 1960s, 1970s, 2000s, and 2010s with the characterization of types PCV3a and PCV3b. A star-like distribution was observed in the grid of haplotypes, with a low haplotype diversity and more recent dispersal of the virus. A total of 40% of asymptomatic animals considered fit for slaughter tested positive for PCV3. In conclusion, PCV3 DNA was detected over 51 years of study, prior to initial reports and, so far, the sample detected in 1967 is the oldest partial capsid sequence described. The circulation of two different genotypes was reported, suggesting more than one introduction event of this virus into Brazil. Moreover, taken together, our studies indicated an ancient origin of PCV3 and its circulation in asymptomatic animals in Brazilian herds.