title: Microbiome associations in pigs with the best and worst clinical outcomes following co-infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).
abstract: On a world-wide basis, co-infections involving porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are common and contribute to a range of polymicrobial disease syndromes in swine. Both viruses compromise host defenses, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections by primary and secondary pathogens that can affect growth performance as well as increased morbidity and mortality. An experimental population of 95 pigs was co-infected with PRRSV and PCV2. At 70days post-infection (dpi), 20 representative pigs were selected as having the best or worst clinical outcome based on average daily gain (ADG) and the presence of clinical disease. Worst clinical outcome pigs had prolonged and greater levels of viremia as measured by qPCR. Serum, lung and fecal samples collected at 70 dpi were analyzed using a comprehensive DNA microarray technology, the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array, to detect over 8000 microbes. Bacterial species, such as Bacillus cereus, were detected at a higher rate in the serum of worst performing pigs. At the level of the fecal microbiome, the overall microbial diversity was lower in the worst clinical outcome group. The results reinforce the importance of pathogen load in determining clinical outcome and suggest an important role of microbial diversity as a contributing factor in disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. Electronic address: mniederwerder@vet.k-state.edu.
authors.forename: Megan C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Niederwerder
authors.affiliation: Physical & Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Crystal J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jaing
authors.affiliation: Physical & Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Thissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Ada Giselle
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cino-Ozuna
authors.affiliation: Computations Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rowland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017925:Circovirus; D060085:Coinfection; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000382:microbiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Clinical outcome; Microbiome; Porcine circovirus type 2; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; Swine; Virus load