Prevalence of Porcine Circoviruses in Slaughterhouses in Central Shanxi Province, China

BackgroundPorcine circovirus disease is currently the greatest threat to pig farming. Four main porcine circovirus genotypes are circulating worldwide. ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess the prevalence of porcine circovirus genotypes in the central part of Shanxi province. MethodsWe investigated the prevalence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), and porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4). Porcine circoviruses were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the lung tissues of 180 pigs from 7 slaughterhouses in central Shanxi, China. ResultsThe prevalence of PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were 56.8, 80, and 9.4%, respectively, and the negative rate was 10% for all three pathogens. The co-infection with PCV2 + PCV3, PCV2 + PCV4, PCV3 + PCV4, and PCV2 + PCV3 + PCV4 were 47.2, 7.4, 7.4, and 5.6%, respectively. Among PCV4-positive samples, the positive rate of PCV4 + PCV2 was 52.9% (9/17), whereas that of PCV4 + PCV3 was 100% (17/17). On the other hand, PCV2 and PCV3 were detected in 57.1% (93/163) and in 78.5% (128/163) of PCV4-negative samples, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were not in the same clade and were distant from each other. ConclusionThe high positive rates of PCV3, PCV2 + PCV3, and PCV3 + PCV4 suggest that PCV3 may play a decisive role in PCV2 and PCV4 infections. Therefore, further control of PCV3 is needed to reduce the spread of the virus.

Automated summary

This study investigated the prevalence of porcine circovirus genotypes in the central part of Shanxi province and found that PCV3 had the highest infection rate, suggesting it may play a decisive role in PCV2 and PCV4 infections. Further control measures for PCV3 are needed to reduce the spread of the virus.