Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China

Porcine circoviruses (PCVs), encompassing porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), and porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4), have been documented in China and represent a significant threat to the swine industry. Nevertheless, there is a pauci...

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Main Authors: Mingyu Fan, Zhiqiang Hu, Lujie Bian, Yunzhou Wang, Xiaoyang Zhang, Xiaowen Li, Xinglong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1376
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author Mingyu Fan
Zhiqiang Hu
Lujie Bian
Yunzhou Wang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xiaowen Li
Xinglong Wang
author_facet Mingyu Fan
Zhiqiang Hu
Lujie Bian
Yunzhou Wang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xiaowen Li
Xinglong Wang
author_sort Mingyu Fan
collection DOAJ
description Porcine circoviruses (PCVs), encompassing porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), and porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4), have been documented in China and represent a significant threat to the swine industry. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data regarding the infection characteristics of PCVs across different age groups within intensive pig farming operations. In this investigation, a systematic cross-sectional methodology was employed to collect 415 testicular processing fluid samples and 1583 serum samples from 30 breeding farms and 27 fattening farms in China. All samples underwent analysis using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Among the testicular fluid samples from suckling pigs, the detection rates for PCV1, PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were 56.9%, 31.1%, 75.4%, and 2.2%, respectively. The lowest mean cycle threshold (Ct) values for PCV1 and PCV3 were observed in testicular fluid as opposed to serum samples. At the individual level, the detection rate of PCV1 was significantly higher in fattening pigs (28.7%) and sows (28.7%) compared to nursery pigs (8.5%). The detection rate of PCV2 was highest in fattening pigs (43.1%) and lowest in sows (19.2%). The infection profile of PCV3 contrasted markedly with that of PCV2, exhibiting the lowest prevalence in fattening pigs (8.1%) and the highest in sows (46.1%). PCV4 was infrequently detected across all age groups, with prevalence rates ranging from 0% to 1.7%. Furthermore, the incidence of mixed infections involving the four PCV types was observed to be 12.7% in nursery pigs, 16.8% in fattening pigs, and 22.4% in sows. Notably, no strong correlation was identified between any two co-detected PCV types across all pig age categories. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights into the infection dynamics of PCVs across different pig age groups. Additionally, this research offers critical reference information for devising strategies to prevent PCV infections in intensive pig farming operations in China.
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spelling doaj-art-4bdc498d99c74a83b33f9897499283622025-08-20T03:14:45ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510137610.3390/ani15101376Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in ChinaMingyu Fan0Zhiqiang Hu1Lujie Bian2Yunzhou Wang3Xiaoyang Zhang4Xiaowen Li5Xinglong Wang6College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Epidemic Disease Detection and Prevention in Panxi District, College of Animal Science, Xichang University, Xichang 615013, ChinaShandong Engineering Research Center of Pig and Poultry Health Breeding and Important Infectious Disease Purification, Shandong New Hope Liuhe Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266100, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang 261061, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang 261061, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaPorcine circoviruses (PCVs), encompassing porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), and porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4), have been documented in China and represent a significant threat to the swine industry. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data regarding the infection characteristics of PCVs across different age groups within intensive pig farming operations. In this investigation, a systematic cross-sectional methodology was employed to collect 415 testicular processing fluid samples and 1583 serum samples from 30 breeding farms and 27 fattening farms in China. All samples underwent analysis using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Among the testicular fluid samples from suckling pigs, the detection rates for PCV1, PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4 were 56.9%, 31.1%, 75.4%, and 2.2%, respectively. The lowest mean cycle threshold (Ct) values for PCV1 and PCV3 were observed in testicular fluid as opposed to serum samples. At the individual level, the detection rate of PCV1 was significantly higher in fattening pigs (28.7%) and sows (28.7%) compared to nursery pigs (8.5%). The detection rate of PCV2 was highest in fattening pigs (43.1%) and lowest in sows (19.2%). The infection profile of PCV3 contrasted markedly with that of PCV2, exhibiting the lowest prevalence in fattening pigs (8.1%) and the highest in sows (46.1%). PCV4 was infrequently detected across all age groups, with prevalence rates ranging from 0% to 1.7%. Furthermore, the incidence of mixed infections involving the four PCV types was observed to be 12.7% in nursery pigs, 16.8% in fattening pigs, and 22.4% in sows. Notably, no strong correlation was identified between any two co-detected PCV types across all pig age categories. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights into the infection dynamics of PCVs across different pig age groups. Additionally, this research offers critical reference information for devising strategies to prevent PCV infections in intensive pig farming operations in China.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1376porcine circovirusesqPCRdifferent age herdsdetection ratemixed infectioncorrelation
spellingShingle Mingyu Fan
Zhiqiang Hu
Lujie Bian
Yunzhou Wang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xiaowen Li
Xinglong Wang
Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
Animals
porcine circoviruses
qPCR
different age herds
detection rate
mixed infection
correlation
title Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
title_full Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
title_fullStr Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
title_full_unstemmed Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
title_short Detection Rate of Porcine Circoviruses in Different Ages and Production Herds of Intensive Pig Farms in China
title_sort detection rate of porcine circoviruses in different ages and production herds of intensive pig farms in china
topic porcine circoviruses
qPCR
different age herds
detection rate
mixed infection
correlation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1376
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