High-throughput screening for respiratory pathogens within pigs in Denmark; analysis of circulating porcine respiratory coronaviruses and their association with other pathogens

Amalie Ehlers Bedsted, Nicole B. Goecke, Charlotte K. Hjulsager, Pia Ryt-Hansen, Kasama Chusang Larsen, Thomas Bruun Rasmussen, Anette Bøtner, Lars E. Larsen, Graham J. Belsham*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) typically causes subclinical or mild respiratory infections in pigs, but may lead to more severe disease with other factors. PRCV infection in Denmark was initially detected in 1984, but data are lacking about its current prevalence and diversity. Antibodies against PRCV were detected in about 75 % of recent pig sera from Denmark. In addition, pig nasal swab samples were screened for PRCV and 12 other respiratory pathogens using a high-throughput RT-qPCR system. All targeted pathogens were detected but at different prevalences. Significant associations were found between the presence of PRCV and certain other pathogens. From PRCV positive samples, partial spike gene sequences and complete nucleocapsid coding sequences were determined. In phylogenetic analyses, these PRCVs clustered with earlier European PRCVs and were distinct from transmissible gastroenteritis virus. We conclude that PRCV is widespread within the pig population in Denmark. Further studies on the significance of PRCV are warranted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number199501
JournalVirus Research
Volume350
ISSN0168-1702
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

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© 2024

Keywords

  • Coronaviruses
  • Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV)
  • Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC)
  • Respiratory bacterial pathogens
  • Swine influenza a virus (swIAV)

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