title: Reproduction in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) seropositive gilts inseminated with PCV2b spiked semen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 1999, field evidence of transplacental infection by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and reproductive failure has been reported in pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathological consequences of PCV2 infection in conventional PCV2-seropositive gilts by insemination with PCV2b-spiked semen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six PCV2 seropositive gilts were inseminated with PCV2b-supplemented semen (infected) and three animals with semen and cell culture medium (controls). Only three out of the six infected animals were pregnant by ultrasonography on day 29 after insemination, while two out of the three controls were pregnant. One control gilt aborted on day 23 after insemination but not due to PVC2. Viraemia was demonstrated in four out of six infected and in one control gilt that became infected with PCV2a. Anti-PCV2 antibody titres showed dynamic variations in the infected group throughout the study. Among infected gilts, the animal with the lowest anti-PCV2 titre (1/100) at the beginning of the experiment and another that reached a similar low value during the experiment showed evident seroconversion over time and had also PCV2 positive foetuses. One placenta displayed mild focal necrosis of the chorionic epithelium positively stained by immunohistochemistry for PCV2 antigen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCV2-seropositive gilts can be infected with PCV2 after intrauterine exposure and low maternal antibody titre may increase the probability of a foetal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarli
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panarese
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fusaro
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galeati
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dottori
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonilauri
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leotti
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joisel
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benazzi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ostanello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017925:Circovirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000662:veterinary; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D014766:Viremia / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology