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Exposure to environmental stressors result in increased viral load and further reduction of production parameters in pigs experimentally infected with PCV2b

Patterson, R; Nevel, M; Diaz, A V; Martineau, H M; Demmers, T G M; Browne, C; Mavrommatis, B; Werling, D

Authors

R Patterson

M Nevel

A V Diaz

H M Martineau

T G M Demmers

C Browne

B Mavrommatis

D Werling



Abstract

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been identified as the essential, but not sole, underlying infectious component for PCV-associated diseases (PCVAD). Several co-factors have been suggested to convert an infection with PCV2 into the clinical signs of PCVAD, including co-infection with a secondary pathogen and the genetic background of the pig. In the present study, we investigated the role of environmental stressors in the form of changes in environmental temperature and increased stocking-density on viral load in serum and tissue, average daily weight gain (ADG) and food conversion rate (FCR) of pigs experimentally infected with a defined PCV2b strain over an eight week period. These stressors were identified recently as risk factors leading to the occurrence of severe PCVAD on a farm level. In the current study, PCV2-free pigs were housed in separate, environmentally controlled rooms, and the experiment was performed in a 2 × 2 factorial design. In general, PCV2b infection reduced ADG and increased FCR, and these were further impacted on by the environmental stressors. Furthermore, all stressors led to an increased viral load in serum and tissue as assessed by qPCR, although levels did not reach statistical significance. Our data suggest that there is no need for an additional pathogen to develop PCVAD in conventional status pigs, and growth retardation and clinical signs can be induced in PCV2 infected pigs that are exposed to environmental stressors alone.

Citation

Patterson, R., Nevel, M., Diaz, A. V., Martineau, H. M., Demmers, T. G. M., Browne, C., Mavrommatis, B., & Werling, D. (2015). Exposure to environmental stressors result in increased viral load and further reduction of production parameters in pigs experimentally infected with PCV2b. Veterinary Microbiology, 177(3-4), 261-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.03.010

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 12, 2015
Publication Date Jun 12, 2015
Deposit Date Mar 25, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 25, 2015
Journal VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
Print ISSN 0378-1135
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 177
Issue 3-4
Pages 261-269
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.03.010
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1400559