Exploratory metagenomic analyses of periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome-affected pigs

• Published in: Veterinary record Vol. 184; no. 1; p. 25
• Main Authors: Franzo, Giovanni, Kekarainen, Tuija, Llorens, Anna, Correa-Fiz, Florencia, Segalés, Joaquim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Limited 01.01.2019; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Anorexia; Copiparvovirus; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease; DNA; etiology; failure to thrive; Genomes; Hogs; Infections; metagenomics; Mortality; pathogenicity; periweaning failure‐to‐thrive syndrome (PFTS); Porcine circovirus 3; porcine parvovirus 6; RNA; Spain; swine; Ungulate; Ungulate bocaparvovirus 2; Ungulate protoparvovirus 1; Veterinary medicine; Viral infections; Viruses; Weaning; China; Spain; periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS); Ungulate; Ungulate bocaparvovirus 2; metagenomics; Porcine circovirus 3; porcine parvovirus 6
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.105125

Modern pig farming is characterised by the emergence of several syndromes whose aetiology is unclear or has a multifactorial origin, including periweaning failure-to-thrive syndrome (PFTS). In fact, its specific aetiology remains elusive, although several causes have been investigated over time. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of viral agents in PFTS-affected and healthy animals by evaluating the virome composition of different organs using a metagenomic approach. This analysis allowed demonstrating a higher abundance of Porcine parvovirus 6 (PPV6) in healthy subjects while Ungulate bocaparvovirus 2 (BoPV2), Ungulate protoparvovirus 1 (PPV) and Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) were increased in pigs with PFTS. No differential abundance of RNA viruses was found between PFTS-affected and control pigs. Remarkably, this is the first molecular characterisation of PPV6 and BoPV2 in Spain and one of the few all around the world, supporting their apparent widespread circulation. Interestingly, PCV-3 has been recently identified in several clinical-pathological conditions as well as in healthy pigs, while BoPV2 pathogenic potential is unknown. Although obtained results must be taken as preliminary, they open the door for further studies on the potential role of these viruses or their combination as predisposing factor/s for PFTS occurrence.