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High prevalence of porcine circovirus 2, porcine parvovirus, and pathogenic leptospires in mummified swine fetuses in Southern Brazil

Alta prevalência de parvovírus suíno, circovírus suíno 2 e leptospiras patogênicas em fetos suínos mumificados na região Sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT:

Modern swine production employs a high degree of technology and is organized in various production stages, in which reproduction is one of the most significant. However, reproductive losses associated to fetal death are still high. Fetal losses, including fetal mummification, may occur at a rate below 1.5% in a sound herd. The causes of fetal death can be very diverse, and include various infectious agents. Therefore, investigating the causes of fetal losses is important in the decision-making process related to the control and prophylaxis of the herd. The goal of this study was to carry out a molecular survey, analyzing porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), and pathogenic Leptospira as potential agents related to fetal death in swine farms in Southern Brazil. We collected samples from three farms with a mummified index ≥ 2.5%. Fragments of brain, lung, kidney, liver, and heart were sampled for PCR analysis. Out of 100 samples examined, 87, 68, and 22 were positive for PCV2, PPV, and Leptospira spp., respectively. Moreover, we also identified coinfections with two and three pathogens in the same sample. Our findings contribute to the spreading of scientific knowledge related to infectious causes (PPV, PCV2, and pathogenic leptospires) of fetal losses in swine, as evidenced by the high frequencies of the investigated agents.

Key words:
fetal losses; leptospire; PCV2; PPV; reproductive failure

RESUMO:

A produção moderna de suínos emprega um alto grau de tecnologia e é organizada em várias etapas de produção, nas quais a reprodução é uma das mais importantes. No entanto, as perdas reprodutivas associadas à morte fetal ainda são altas. Perdas fetais, incluindo mumificação, podem ocorrer em taxa abaixo de 1,5% em rebanhos sadios. As causas da morte fetal podem ser diversas, incluindo causas infecciosas. Portanto, a investigação de causas relacionadas à ocorrência de perdas fetais é importante no processo relacionado ao controle e profilaxia do rebanho. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um levantamento molecular, incluindo circovírus suíno 2 (PCV2), parvovírus suíno (PPV), e leptospiras patogênicas como potenciais agentes relacionados à morte fetal em suínos no sul do Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de três granjas com índice de fetos mumificados ≥ 2,5%. Fragmentos de cérebro, pulmão, rim, fígado e coração foram amostrados para análise por PCR. Das 100 amostras examinadas, 87 foram positivas para PCV2, 68 foram positivas para PPV e 22 foram positivas para Leptospira spp. Além disso, também identificamos co-infecções com dois e três patógenos em uma mesma amostra. Os resultados encontrados contribuem para a disseminação do conhecimento científico relacionado às causas infecciosas (PCV2, PPV e Leptospiras patogênicas) relacionadas às perdas fetais em suínos, assim como evidenciam a alta frequência dos agentes pesquisados.

Palavras-chave:
falhas reprodutivas; Leptospiras; PCV2; perdas fetais; PPV

Brazil is one of the most important meat producers and exporters worldwide, and its Southern region accounts for approximately 84% of all Brazilian pork exportation (ABPA, 2018ABPA, ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE PROTEÍNA ANIMAL. Produção mundial de carne suína, 2018. Available from: <Available from: http://abpa-br.com.br/storage/files/relatorio-anual-2018.pdf >. Accessed: Oct. 31, 2018.
http://abpa-br.com.br/storage/files/rela...
). The dimensions of this pork production chain inevitably call for a stringent set of approaches towards animal health and reproductive performance (VARGAS et al., 2007VARGAS, A.J. et al. Que decisão tomar frente a matrizes que apresentam falhas reprodutivas: elas merecem uma nova chance? Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.35, p. 57-62. 2007. Available from: <Available from: https://www.lume.ufrgs.br/bitstream/handle/10183/13299/000601693.pdf?sequence=1 >. Accessed: Oct. 30, 2018.
https://www.lume.ufrgs.br/bitstream/hand...
). In that regard, fetal mummification has a negative impact on the total number of piglets born alive per litter (BORGES et al., 2005BORGES, V. et al. Risk factors for stillbirth and foetal mummification in four Brazilian swine herds. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, v.70, p.165-176. 2005. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587705001133 >. Accessed: Oct. 21, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.03.003.
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). According to ZANELLA, SILVEIRA & SOBESTIANSKY (2007ZANELLA, E.; SILVEIRA, P.R.S & SOBESTIANSKY, J. Falhas reprodutivas. In: BARCELLOS, D.; SOBESTIANSKY, J. Doenças dos Suínos. P.541-575. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial . 2007.), fetal mummification rates of up to 1.5% are generally acceptable; however, there is an increasing number of reports indicating a steep increase in fetal mummification, with rates of over 3% being reported (data not published). Fetal mummification in swine is associated with a wide range of factors, including lack of uterine space, exposure to toxic substances, and infectious diseases (ZANELLA; SILVEIRA & SOBESTIANSKY, 2007ZANELLA, E.; SILVEIRA, P.R.S & SOBESTIANSKY, J. Falhas reprodutivas. In: BARCELLOS, D.; SOBESTIANSKY, J. Doenças dos Suínos. P.541-575. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial . 2007.).

Infections caused by porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), and Leptospira spp. (MORÉS; BARCELLOS & ZANELLA, 2007MORÉS, N.; BARCELLOS, D. & ZANELLA, J. R. C. Circovirose Suína. In: SOBESTIANSKY, J.; BARCELLOS, D. Doença dos Suínos. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial, cap.7, p.213-225, 2007.) are among the most important causes of reproductive failure. Porcine circovirus type 2 is mainly linked to post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), as well as reproductive disorders, including fetal mummification (ASANOME et al., 2008ASANOME, W. et al. Association between bacterial otitis and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection in pigs. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, v.28, n.10, p.471-476 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-736X2008001000005&script=sci_abstract&tlng=pt > Accessed: Oct. 10, 2018. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2008001000005.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S010...
; MAES et al., 2008MAES, D. et al. Diseases in swine transmitted by artificial insemination: an overview. Theriogenology, v.70, n.8, p.1337-1345, 2008. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X08004020 >. Accessed: Oct. 10, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.06.018.
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; MADSON et al., 2009MADSON, D.M. et al. Reproductive failure experimentally induced in sows via artificial insemination with semen spiked with porcine circovirus type 2. Veterinary Pathology, v.46, n.4, p.707-716, 2009. Available from: <Available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1354/vp.08-vp-0234-o-fl >. Accessed: Oct. 11, 2018. doi: 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0234-O-FL.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10....
).

Porcine parvovirus is the main infectious cause of fetal mummification in swine (ROEHE; SOBESTIANSKY & BARCELLOS, 2007ROEHE, P.; SOBESTIANSKY, J. &BARCELLOS, D. Parvovirose. In: SOBESTIANSKY, J.& BARCELLOS,D. Doenças dos Suínos. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial , cap.3, p.286-293, 2007.) and has been associated with reproductive failure in Brazilian swine farms for about five decades (GOUVÊIA et al., 1984GOUVÊIA, A.M.G. et al. Alterações reprodutivas e prevalência de anticorpos inibidores de hemaglutinação para o parvovírus suíno no Estado de Minas Gerais. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, v.4, p.17- 22, 1984.). This virus infects tissues with high rates of mitosis, such as the fetus and placenta (ROEHE; SOBESTIANSKY& BARCELLOS, 2007ROEHE, P.; SOBESTIANSKY, J. &BARCELLOS, D. Parvovirose. In: SOBESTIANSKY, J.& BARCELLOS,D. Doenças dos Suínos. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial , cap.3, p.286-293, 2007.), and causes embryo resorption, delayed parturition, mummified fetuses, stillbirths, and perinatal death (PASCOAL et al., 2006PASCOAL, L.A.F. et al. Mortality, stillborn and fetal mummification: factors that influence the reproductive efficiency of swine. Revista Eletrônica de Veterinária, v.7, n.11, p.1-6, 2006. Available from: <Available from: http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n111106/110610.pdf >. Accessed: Oct. 03, 2018.
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).

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis and a widespread occupational hazard, globally associated with significant losses in porcine reproduction. It is especially important in Southern and Southeastern Brazil (LANGONI et al., 1995LANGONI, H. et al. Pesquisa de aglutininas antileptospiricas em soros de ovinos no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, utilizando provas de macroaglutinação em placas e soroaglutinação microscópica. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, v.17, n.6, p.264-268, 1995.). Prevalent serovars, for instance Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Tarassovi, Canicola, and Bratislava (SOBESTIANSKY et al., 1999SOBESTIANSKY, J. et al. Clínica e patologia suína. 2.ed. Goiânia: Universidade Federal de Goiás, 1999. 464p.) cause embryo loss, anestrus, abortion, dystocia, reduced litters, fetal mummification, stillbirths, and runt piglets (EDWARDS, 1979EDWARDS, J.D. & DAINES, D.A Leptospirosis outbreak in a piggery. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, v.27, n.11, p.247-248, 1979.). The bacteria may persist in the kidney and genital tissues for up to five months after an abortion (ELLIS & THIERMANN, 1986ELLIS, W.A.& THIERMANN, A.B. Isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava from sows in Iowa. American Journal of Veterinary Research, v.47, n.7, p.1458-1460, 1986. Available from: <Available from: https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/3740615 >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018.
https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/37406...
).

Given the importance of these agents in swine reproduction, the goal of this study was to investigate whether PCV2, PPV, and leptospires were involved in the increasing numbers of fetal mummification in the pig farms of Southern Brazil. Samples were collected from three pig farms in the southernmost Brazilian states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) with reported occurrences of mummification ≥2.5%. At least 30 females with different parity orders and two or more mummified fetuses from each origin were considered for this study. Fragments of brain, lung, kidney, liver and heart, and liver were collected and pooled from fetuses collected immediately after parturition and stored at -20 °C. The isolation and purification of total DNA (50 - 100 mg in 10% w/v PBS) was achieved using silica-based spin columns according to the manufacturer’s instructions (BIOPUR Kit de Extração Mini Spin Plus, Biometrix Diagnóstica Ltda., Curitiba, PR, Brasil). The PCR detection of the infectious agents was based on the amplification of conserved sequences of genes that codify for the capsid protein (ORF2) of PCV2 (RINCÓN MONROY et al., 2014RINCÓN MONROY, M.A. et al. Detection and molecular characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 from piglets with Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases in Colombia. Virology Journal, v.11, p.143, 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-11-143 >. Accessed: Sep. 22, 2018. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-11-143.
https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/arti...
) and for the non-structural protein (NS1) of PPV (SOARES et al., 1999SOARES, R.M. et al. Detection of porcine parvovirus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction assay using primers to the highly conserved nonstructural protein gene, NS-1. Journal of Virological Methods, v.78, p.191-198, 1999. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166093498001773 >. Accessed: Oct. 31, 2018. doi: 10.1016/S0166-0934(98)00177-3.
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). Leptospires were detected through amplification of the genes LigA and LigB (PALANIAPPAN et al., 2005PALANIAPPAN, R.U. et al. Evaluation of lig-based conventional and real time PCR for the detection of pathogenic leptospires. Molecular and Cellular Probes, v.19, n.2, p.111-117, 2005. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890850804000970 >. Accessed: Oct. 23, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.mcp.2004.10.002.
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), expressed as conserved virulence factors reported only in pathogenic bacteria (MATSUNAGA et al., 2003MATSUNAGA, J. et al. Pathogenic Leptospira species express surface-exposed proteins belonging to the bacterial immunoglobulin superfamily. Molecular Microbiology, v.49, n.4, p.929-945, 2003. Available from: <Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03619.x >. Accessed: Sep. 30, 2018. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03619.x.
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). Polymerase chain reactions for PCV2, PPV, and Lig genes amplified fragments of 657, 330, and 468 base pairs, respectively, using a ready-to-use premixed solution (GoTaq Green Master Mix, Promega), plus 500 nM of primers, 2 µL of template DNA, and ultrapure nuclease-free water to a final reaction volume of 25 µL. In each PCR run, a non-template control was included to check for contamination. In addition, positive controls (DNA samples isolated from known positive tissues) were run in parallel with unknown samples to ensure proper assay quality. Amplified products were resolved by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel and visualized using an intercalating stain (Unisafe Dye, Uniscience do Brasil, SP, Brazil) in a high-resolution/sensitivity imaging system (ChemiDoc Gel Imaging System, BioRad, EUA).

A total of 100 samples were tested for the presence of PCV2, PPV, and Leptospira spp. Eighty seven percent were positive for PCV2 (87/100), 68% were positive for PPV (68/100), and 22% were positive for pathogenic leptospires (22/100). Infection by a single agent totaled 24 samples positive for PVC2, eight samples positive for PPV, and two samples positive for Leptospira spp. Coinfection with PCV2/PPV, PCV2/Leptospira spp., and PPV/Leptospira spp. occurred in 45, 5 and 2 samples, respectively. Additionally, 13 samples were positive for all three agents investigated in this study (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from mummified swine fetuses. Detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and Leptospira spp. (pathogenic leptospires) from one hundred analyzed samples. Single infections, double and triple co-infections are presented.

Due to their variety, PCV2-related diseases have been extensively studied (ZANELLA; SILVEIRA & SOBESTIANSKY, 2007ZANELLA, E.; SILVEIRA, P.R.S & SOBESTIANSKY, J. Falhas reprodutivas. In: BARCELLOS, D.; SOBESTIANSKY, J. Doenças dos Suínos. P.541-575. Goiânia: Cânone Editorial . 2007.). However, there are only a handful of studies suggesting the involvement of PCV2 in porcine reproductive failure. A Canadian report published in 1999 was the first to associate PCV2 with reproductive failure (WEST et al., 1999WEST, K.H. et al. Myocarditis and Abortion Associated with Intrauterine Infection of Sows with Porcine Circovirus 2. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, v.11, n.6, p.530-532, 1999. Available from: <Available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/104063879901100608 >. Accessed: Oct. 24, 2018. doi: 10.1177/104063879901100608.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10....
). ROCHA et al. (2010ROCHA, D.L. et al. Identification of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvovirus in porcine stillbirths and mummified fetuses from swine farms in Brazil. Ciência Animal Brasileira, v.11, n.3, p.600-606, 2010. Available from: <Available from: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20113000468 >. Accessed: Nov. 06, 2018. doi: 10.5216/cab.v11i3.5403.
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) reported a study in which 50.3% of samples were positive for PCV2 (stillbirths and mummified fetuses). Our results clearly indicated a high percentage of mummified fetuses positive for PCV2 (87%). Swine populations with a high frequency of PCV2 have frequently been start-up herds with a significantly high number of susceptible gilts (YU et al., 2007YU, S. et al. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) distribution and replication in tissues and immune cells in early infected pigs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, v.11, n.3, p.261-272, 2007. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165242706003254 >. Accessed: Oct. 14, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.11.006.
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). Even though vaccines against PCV2 infection are considered effective (OPRIESSNIG et al., 2008OPRIESSNIG, T. et al. Influence of maternal antibodies on efficacy of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination to protect pigs from experimental infection with PCV2. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, v.15, n.3, p.397-401, 2008. Available from: <Available from: https://cvi.asm.org/content/15/3/397.short >. Accessed: Nov. 14, 2018. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00416-07.
https://cvi.asm.org/content/15/3/397.sho...
), it might be necessary to readdress vaccination protocols regarding the time point of dam immunization, which can influence the level of circulating antibodies (AFGHAH et al., 2017AFGHAH, Z.et al. Ten years of PCV2 vaccines and vaccination: is eradication a possibility? Veterinary Microbiology, v.206, p.21-28, 2017. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378113516304527 > Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.10.002.
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). OLIVER-FERRANDO et al. (2018OLIVER-FERRANDO, S. et al. Exploratory field study on the effect of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) sow vaccination on serological, virological and reproductive parameters in a PCV2 subclinically infected sow herd. Veterinary Research, v.14, n.130, 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-018-1452-x >. Accessed: Nov. 14, 2018. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1452-x.
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) detected a subclinical infection in seropositive gilts and sows along with a low percentage of viremic animals before starting vaccination trials. Vaccination protocols are not yet fully standardized in Brazil, so that the maintenance of the virus in farms might be facilitated. However, it is important to emphasize that immunization without the appropriate farm management or biosafety measures does not prevent PCV2-related problems.

Our findings indicated that the molecular detection of PPV was substantial. Conversely, PESCADOR et al. (2007PESCADOR, C.A. et al. Co-infection by porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine parvovirus in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets in southern Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, v.27, n.10, p.425-429, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-736X2007001000007&lng=en&nrm=iso >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2007001000007.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
) reported that 2.4% of stillbirths and mummified fetuses were PPV-positive in Southern Brazilian farms, while MALDONADO et al. (2005MALDONADO, J. et al. Identification of viral pathogens in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets from cases of swine reproductive failure in Spain. The Veterinary Journal, v.169, n.3, p.454-456, 2005. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023304001297 >. Accessed: Nov. 12, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.05.007.
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) did not detect the presence of PPV in stillborn and aborted fetuses in Spain. This agent is ubiquitous in swine populations worldwide (SHARMA & SAIKUMAR, 2010SHARMA, R. & SAIKUMAR, G. Porcine parvovirus- and porcine circovirus 2-associated reproductive failure and neonatal mortality in crossbred Indian pigs. Tropical Animal Health and Production, v.42, n.3, p.515-522, 2010. Available from: <Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11250-009-9454-0#citeas >. Accessed: Nov.15, 2018. doi: 10.1007/s11250-009-9454-0.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.100...
). Thus, widespread vaccination against PPV is regarded as an important tool to control reproductive problems (MALDONADO et al., 2005MALDONADO, J. et al. Identification of viral pathogens in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets from cases of swine reproductive failure in Spain. The Veterinary Journal, v.169, n.3, p.454-456, 2005. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023304001297 >. Accessed: Nov. 12, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.05.007.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
; SHARMA & SAIKUMAR, 2010SHARMA, R. & SAIKUMAR, G. Porcine parvovirus- and porcine circovirus 2-associated reproductive failure and neonatal mortality in crossbred Indian pigs. Tropical Animal Health and Production, v.42, n.3, p.515-522, 2010. Available from: <Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11250-009-9454-0#citeas >. Accessed: Nov.15, 2018. doi: 10.1007/s11250-009-9454-0.
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). Interestingly, our findings indicated a high frequency of PPV in mummified fetuses despite vaccination. It is noteworthy that we observed coinfection with PCV2 and PPV (45/100 samples). Coinfection with PCV2 and PPV has been associated with PMWS and abortion in naturally and experimentally infected pigs (KENNEDY et al., 2000KENNEDY, S. Reproduction of lesions of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome by infection of conventional pigs with porcine circovirus type 2 alone or in combination with porcine parvovirus. Journal of Comparative Pathology, v.122, p.9-24, 2000. Available from: <Available from: https://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Reproduction+of+Lesions+of+Postweaning+Multisystemic+Wasting+Syndrome+by+Infection+of+Conventional+Pigs+with+Porcine+Circovirus+Type+2+Alone+or+in+Combination+with+Porcine+Parvovirus&btnG= >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 0021-9975/00/010009.
https://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl...
). The PPV replicates in cells of the monocyte-macrophage series and may produce immune cell dysfunction, activation, or immunosuppression, enhancing the replication of PCV2 (KENNEDY et al., 2000KENNEDY, S. Reproduction of lesions of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome by infection of conventional pigs with porcine circovirus type 2 alone or in combination with porcine parvovirus. Journal of Comparative Pathology, v.122, p.9-24, 2000. Available from: <Available from: https://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Reproduction+of+Lesions+of+Postweaning+Multisystemic+Wasting+Syndrome+by+Infection+of+Conventional+Pigs+with+Porcine+Circovirus+Type+2+Alone+or+in+Combination+with+Porcine+Parvovirus&btnG= >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 0021-9975/00/010009.
https://scholar.google.com.br/scholar?hl...
). However, it is not clear whether PCV2 alone is causing the reproductive failure or a coinfection with PPV could trigger these pregnancy disorders. Few vaccination protocols in Brazil use the PCV2 vaccine to prevent pregnancy losses. Thus, it might be possible that reproductive failures associated with return to estrus, early abortion, and fetal mummification have been incorrectly related to other agents or non-infectious causes. The high rate of PCV2 infection reported in our study suggested that PCV2 vaccination before breeding could be used as an important tool to decrease reproductive issues.

There are a great variety of Leptospira serovars present in swine herds worldwide, causing stillbirths, mummified fetuses, and the births of runt piglets (RAMOS et al., 2006RAMOS, A.C.F. et al. Influence of leptospirosis on reproductive performance of sows in Brazil. Theriogenology, v.66, n.4, p.1021-1025, 2006. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093691X06001488 >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.08.028.
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). Fortunately, only a small number of serovars are endemic to any particular region or country, so that the clinical signs associated with leptospiral infection often include correlations with serovars. Our study did not accomplish a serovar differentiation, as we focused on the molecular detection of pathogenic leptospires. Although, not as prevalent as PCV2 and PPV, we observed that 22% of samples were positive for Leptospira spp. The pathogenesis of the reproductive disease is still poorly understood. Nevertheless, some authors accept that the transplacental infection that occurs during a very transient maternal leptospiremia is the sole cause of disease development (ELLIS & THIERMANN, 1986ELLIS, W.A.& THIERMANN, A.B. Isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava from sows in Iowa. American Journal of Veterinary Research, v.47, n.7, p.1458-1460, 1986. Available from: <Available from: https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/3740615 >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018.
https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/37406...
). Despite the scarce molecular data on the detection of leptospirosis associated with reproductive issues in swine, our results are quite important. Even considering vaccination as one of most important tools to control leptospirosis in production animals (VALÉE et al., 2017VALEÉ, E. et al. Effectiveness of a commercial leptospiral vaccine on urinary shedding in naturally exposed sheep in New Zealand. Vaccine, v.35, n.9, p.1362-1368, 2017. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X16301785 >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.04.037.
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), the efficacy of the swine vaccines is questionable, as they induce limited amounts of protective antibodies and are rarely produced with the strains that affect the herds (BALAKRISHNAN & ROY, 2014BALAKRISHNAN, G & ROY, P. Comparision of efficacy of two experimental bovine leptospira vaccines under laboratory and field. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, v.159, n.2, p.11-15, 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165242714000567 > Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.03.002.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
). SONADA et al. (2018SONADA, R.B. et al. Efficacy of leptospiral commercial vaccines on the protection against an autochtonous strain recovered in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v.49, n.2, p.347-350, 2018. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1517-83822018000200347&lng=en&nrm=iso >. Accessed: Nov. 15, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.bjm.2017.06.008.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
) published an interesting report about the efficacy of the commercial vaccine against leptospirosis. They demonstrated that three out of the five vaccines sold in Brazil for the immunization of swine (or cattle) failed to protect the vaccinated animals following a challenge with an autochthonous Leptospira strain. These results might support our findings, for all samples analyzed in our study came from regularly vaccinated herds.

Based on our results, we were able to demonstrate high frequencies of PCV2 and PPV, as well as pathogenic leptospires in mummified swine fetuses. These findings may explain the current increased rates of mummified swine fetuses observed in Southern Brazil, and indicate the need for further study on circumventing the reproductive issues caused by these agents.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), CHAMADA MCTI/CNPQ Nº 01/2016 - UNIVERSAL - FAIXA A; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Santa Catarina (FAPESC) - CHAMADA PÚBLICA FAPESC Nº 09/2015 - APOIO A GRUPOS DE PESQUISA DAS INSTITUIÇÕES DO SISTEMA ACAFE and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sanidade e Produção Animal of Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina (UNOESC), Xanxerê.

REFERENCES

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    CR-2019-0965.R1
  • BIOETHICS AND BIOSSECURITY COMMITTEE APPROVAL

    The authors declared, for all due purposes, the project that gave rise to the present data does not require IACUC or CEUA (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais) approval because it did not use LIVE ANIMALS. Thus, the authors assume full responsibility for the presented data and are available for possible questions, should they be required by the competent authorities.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    11 Apr 2019
  • Date of issue
    2019

History

  • Received
    22 Nov 2018
  • Accepted
    27 Feb 2019
  • Reviewed
    25 Mar 2019
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