Experimental in utero inoculation of late-term swine fetuses with porcine circovirus type 2.
All 37 fetuses of 3 laparotomized pregnant sows at 86, 92, and 93 days of gestation were inoculated intramuscularly through the uterine wall with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2). The sows were allowed to farrow, and blood and tissue samples were collected from their piglets before and after suckling colostrum. Thirteen fetuses from 2 sows at 90 and 103 days of gestation were used as controls. Of the 37 PCV-2 inoculated fetuses, 24 were grossly normal and 13 were mummified, stillborn, or weak-born at farrowing. Infection with PCV-2 was demonstrated in various tissues of grossly normal and abnormal fetuses by virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemical methods. Antibodies specific to PCV-2 were also detected from the sera or thoracic fluids of abnormal fetuses and unsuckled normal pigs. No evidence of PCV-2 infection was found in any control fetuses. The present results confirm previous findings that PCV-2 can infect late-term swine fetuses and may cause reproductive abnormalities.
Johnson
Charles S
CS
Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Joo
Han S
HS
Direksin
Kochakorn
K
Yoon
Kyoung-Jin
KJ
Choi
Young K
YK
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D017925:Circovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral