Analysis of spread of porcine circovirus type 3 detected in Russia

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV-3) — a recently detected member of Circoviridae family. The virus has been identified as a possible infectious agent. Clinical signs vary from stillbirth and fetus mummification, encephalitis and myocarditis in perinatal period to periarteritis in fattening period. The PCV-3 widespread has been demonstrated in major pork development countries. Establishing of the association between presence of this pathogen and disease development makes PCV3 diagnostic studies in Russia necessary. The main goal of this investigation was to detect PCV3 DNA in blood serum, saliva and bronchioalveolar lavage and pathological material in sows and piglets of different age groups at two units at an industrial swine farm. For PCV-3 detection we used PCR method. Results of this investigation revealed that PCV3 was detected in all types of biomaterial. At the unit 1 PCV3 DNA has been detected in saliva (highes ratio of infected animals was 60% in 21- and 60–70 day-old piglets), serum (100% in 150–160-day-old piglets) and bronchioalveolar fluid (40% in 90–100-day-old piglets). It was found that at the unit 2 level of piglets PCV-3 shedding was higher (50–100%) than at the unit 1 (0–60%). Moreover, PCV3 DNA has been detected in 70% of pathological material obtained from aborted sows and in 80% of their amniotic fluid.