Master of Science / Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathology / Megan Niederwerder / Evidence has shown that the gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in response to infectious disease. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are two of the most important pathogens affecting the swine industry worldwide. Co-infections are common on a global scale, resulting in pork production losses through reducing weight gain and causing respiratory disease in growing pigs. Our initial microbiome work demonstrated that the fecal microbiome was associated with clinical outcome of pigs 70 days post-infection (dpi). However, it remained uncertain if microbiome characteristics could predispose response to viral challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine if microbiome characteristics present at the time of viral challenge were associated with outcome after co-infection. Using the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array, we profiled the microbiome in feces on 0 dpi from pigs identified as having high or low growth rates after co-infection. High growth rate pigs had less severe interstitial pneumonia, reduced PRRSV replication, and a significant increase in average daily weight gain throughout the study. At the level of the fecal microbiome, high growth rate pigs had increased microbial diversity on both a family and species level. Shifts in the microbiome composition of the high growth rate pigs included reduced Methanobacteriaceae species, increased Ruminococcaceae species, and increased Streptococcaceae species when compared to low growth rate pigs. Our results indicate that both microbiome diversity and composition prior to virus exposure may play a role in the subsequent response of pigs to PRRSV/PCV2 co-infection. We followed this study by investigating the microbiome characteristics that are present after co-infection and the role of the microbiome in subclinical infections. Microbiome analysis at 3 and 6 weeks post-infection showed no significant difference between high and low growth rate pigs. The results from both exploring the impact that the initial microbiome has on outcome as well as examining the trends in the microbiome during the post-infection period demonstrate that microbiome pre-infection composition may play a larger role in the outcome of subclinical disease in pigs than microbiome composition during viremia or after viral clearance.

The diagnosis of porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD) in pigs requires the detection of characteristic clinical signs and pathological changes, and the detection of virus in tissues of affected pigs. To increase Australia’s capacity to independently diagnose PCVAD in Australia, techniques for the detection of Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection in pigs were developed and are reported in this thesis. These techniques were applied to samples obtained from normal pigs and pigs with disease and confirmed the presence of PCV2 and PCVAD in the Australian pig herd. Viral DNA was detected in tissues of infected pigs by both standard PCR and real-time PCR techniques. The real-time PCR was more sensitive. While the conventional PCR was able to detect approximately 100 copies of the viral genome, the real-time PCR was able to detect 20 copies of the genome. An immunohistochemical (IHC) technique which was also developed enabled the visualisation of PCV2 antigen in fixed tissues of pigs with PCVAD. The techniques that were developed were applied to an examination of tissues from pigs affected by illthrift and increased weaner mortality in herds in South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia. Lesions suggestive of the PCVAD postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) were detected and virus antigen was detected in association with lesions. The nature of the clinical signs and histopathological lesions detected, coupled with the presence of PCV2 antigen, suggested that PCVAD was present in some Australian pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis of the strains of PCV2-associated with these disease outbreaks demonstrated they were of a type not previously detected in Australia and similar to strains associated with PMWS in North America. To further assist in investigation of PCV2 infections in the Australian pig herd, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that specifically detected antibody to PCV2 and not the related and non-pathogenic Porcine circovirus type 1. The development of this assay required the production of a virus capsid protein antigen using a prokaryotic protein production system. The ELISA was used to test serum samples form the Australian national pig serum bank. A high prevalence of PCV2 infection was detected in most pig herds examined in all Australian states. International trade in pig meat has resulted in many countries placing restrictions on the importation of pig meat, requiring imported pig meats to be cooked to destroy viral agents. This study investigated the in vitro resistance of an Australian strain of PCV2 to heat treatment at temperatures between 56°C and 85°C. The viability of the virus was determined by a combination of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and IHC to visualise viral capsid antigen within infected cells. This study indicated that PCV2 retained its infectivity following heating up to and including 75°C for 15 mins, but was inactivated following heating to 80°C and above. The investigations reported make a significant contribution to PCV2 research in Australia and ensure Australia’s capacity to independently investigate PCVAD in the Australian pig herd.

This thesis reports for the first time the detection of porcine circovirus virus (PCV) in the Australian pig herd. PCV DNA was detected in the tissues of pigs from several Australian states using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, the primers for which were based on the sequence of PCV1 and PCV2 strains detected in North America and Europe. PCV type 1 or 2 was detected in 80 of 367 (21.7%) pigs tested. In the 80 positives, both PCV1 and PCV2 were detected in 14 samples. Virus was detected in pigs from all states from which samples were obtained: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. The complete genomes of 13 strains of Australian PCV were sequenced. Analysis of the data indicated there was extremely high homology between the Australian strains of PCV1 and PCV2 and previously published sequences of PCV1 and PCV2 strains from North America and Europe.There were no consistent differences between the genome of the Australian strains and strains in North America and Europe. The widespread occurrence of PCV in the tissues of pigs was confirmed by a small scale serological study of the Western Australian pig herd using an immunofluorescence assay, which did not discriminate antibody to PCV1 and PCV2. This assay detected PCV antibody in 11 of 14 pig herds in Western Australia, with a prevalence rate in positive herds varying from 25 to 47%, but it was unable to differentiate antibody to PCV1 and PCV2. A PCV2-specific recombinant viral capsid protein was produced in insect cells with a baculovirus expression system and this was used to develop a PCV2-specific ELISA and a Western immunoblotting assay. These assays were applied to samples from a national pig serum bank and detected PCV2 antibody in 33% of 3933 serum samples. The highest seroprevalence to the recombinant PCV2 capsid antigen was detected in the samples from Victoria where there was a 51.3% seroprevalence rate, and the lowest in Western Australia where there was an 11.4% seroprevalence rate. An in situ hybridisation (ISH) technique was developed for the detection of PCV in tissues of infected pigs and infected cell cultures. A monoclonal antibody specific for the capsid protein of PCV2 was also produced and has application for the development of immunocytochemical procedures for the detection of PCV2 in tissues and cell cultures. The high prevalence of PCV in the Australian pig herd and the absence of reports of PMWS suggested that the Australian strains of PMWS detected may have been of low virulence. To examine the pathogenicity of Australian strains, two animal experiments were conducted where the type species of PCV1 present in persistently-infected PK15 pig kidney cells and an Australian PCV2 strain were cultured in vitro in cell cultures and inoculated into weaner pigs. As expected, the PCV1 replicated well in pigs but did not result in the induction of clinical signs or lesions in the inoculated pigs. The inoculation into weaner pigs of cell culture replicated PCV2 with an apparent virus titre of 103 virus particles/mL resulted in infection of only some of the inoculated pigs and it was concluded that the PCV2 inoculum contained insufficient virus to infect all pigs into which it was inoculated. The PCV2 did not induce any disease syndrome and could not be visualised in tissue sections of infected pigs using immunohistochemical techniques. In conclusion, techniques were developed for the detection of PCV in the Australian pig herd. PCV of both genetic types were detected at prevalence rates similar to those reported in other countries where PMWS has occurred, and the widespread occurrence of PCV was confirmed by serological assays. The PCV strains present were genetically indistinguishable from those present in North America and Europe. The reason for the absence of PMWS in Australia is most likely not due to differences in the characteristics of the PCV strains present.

Circovirus suíno 2 (PCV2) associado a doenças (PCVAD do inglês Porcine circovirus associated disease) pode se manifestar como infecção sistêmica, enterite, problemas reprodutivos, síndrome de dermatite e nefropatia suína e complexo de doenças respiratórias (PRDC). A ocorrência de PRDC, que afeta, principalmente, animais de crescimento e terminação, caracteriza-se por crescimento lento, tosse prolongada e dispnéia, assim como lesões macroscópicas características em pulmão. PCV2 possui três principais regiões abertas de leitura (ORFs): ORF-1 codifica proteínas envolvidas na replicação (gene Rep); ORF-2 codifica proteína estrutural do capsídeo (gene Cap) e ORF-3 codifica proteína envolvida na indução de apoptose celular. O gene Cap é a região mais variável do PCV2, havendo indícios da associação entre a proteína Cap e patogenicidade. De acordo com a nomenclatura unificada proposta por Segalés et al., três diferentes genótipos são atualmente reconhecidos (PCV2a, - 2b, -2c). O aumento na incidência e gravidade da PCVAD foi atribuído ao surgimento do PCV2b tornando-se o mais prevalente subtipo em países da América do Norte, Europa, e no Brasil. Diante dos prejuízos que a PRDC acarreta, 200 amostras de pulmão com e sem lesões pneumônicas macroscópicas foram analisadas para PCV2 pela PCR; 88,5 % (177/200) foram positivas para PCV2 por PCR corroborando com estudos em que o PCV2 foi encontrado em um grande numero de amostras e poderia desenvolver um papel da PRDC. Entretanto, não houve associação significativa entre amostras positivas e presença ou ausência de lesões pneumônicas macroscópicas (p=0,26). A análise filogenética de 27 amostras PCV2 positivas sequênciadas (22 genoma completo e cinco ORF-2 completa) foram agrupadas no genótipo PCV2b. Devido à alta identidade de nucleotídeos e aminoácidos entre as sequencias obtidas e as recuperadas de estudos anteriores com presença e ausência de PCVAD, não há indícios de associação entre patogenicidade e o subtipo de PCV2 identificado neste trabalho / Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) associated disease (PCVAD) may manifest as systemic infection, enteritis, reproductive problems, dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome and porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). The occurrence of PRDC, which affects mainly the growing and finishing animals, characterized by slow growth, prolonged cough and dyspnea, as well as characteristic gross lesions in the lungs. PCV2 has three main regions denominated open reading frames (ORFs): ORF-1 encodes a protein involved in replication (Rep gene), ORF-2 encodes the capsid structural protein (Cap gene) and ORF-3 encodes a protein involved in the induction of cellular apoptosis. The Cap gene is the most variable region of PCV2, with evidence of association between the Cap protein and pathogenicity. According to an unified nomenclature proposed by Ségales et al., three different subtypes are currently recognized (PCV2a,-2b-2c). The increased incidence and severity of PCVAD was attributed to the rise of PCV2b becoming the most prevalent subtype in countries of North America, Europe, and Brazil. Given the damage that leads to PRDC, 200 samples of lungs with and without macroscopic pneumonic lesions were analyzed for PCV2 by PCR; 88.5% (177/200) were positive for PCV2 by PCR corroborating with studies in which PCV2 was found in a large number of samples and could develop a role in PRDC. However, there was no significant association between positive samples and the presence or absence of macroscopic pneumonic lesions (p=0.26). Phylogenetic analysis of the 27 samples PCV2 positive sequenced (22 complete genome and five complete ORF-2) were grouped in genotype PCV2b. Due to the high identity between the nucleotide and amino acid sequences obtained and retrieved from previous studies with presence and absence of PCVAD, there is no evidence of association between subtype and pathogenicity of PCV2 identified in this work

Circovírus suíno 2 (PCV2) é responsável pelas doenças associadas ao circovírus suíno (PCVAD do inglês Porcine circovirus associated disease) que engloba várias condições clínicas. Acomete suínos nas principais áreas produtoras do mundo causando grandes prejuízos. A situação acerca do conhecimento acerca da complexa patogenia e os múltiplos fatores de risco permitem compreender apenas em parte o verdadeiro impacto das PCVADs em suínos, sendo este um conhecimento mais amplo e dependente de resultados obtidos com infecções experimentais. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: i) verificar a infectividade do isolado brasileiro de PCV2 em animais infectados experimentalmente; ii) verificar a transmissão horizontal do isolado brasileiro de PCV2 em animais infectados experimentalmente; iii) avaliar a patologia do isolado brasileiro nos animais infectados experimentalmente; e iv) avaliar a resposta imune humoral nos animais infectados experimentalmente com o isolado brasileiro. Foram utilizados nove leitões divididos em três grupos com três animais cada: i) G1 animais inoculados por via intra-nasal, com aproximadamente 49 dias de idade; ii) G2 animais não inoculados mantidos na mesma baia que os G1; e iii) GC animais controle. Amostras de soro, suabes (nasal e fecal) e dados de desempenho foram coletados semanalmente. Amostras de tecidos foram coletadas durante a necropsia, aos 42 dias após a inoculação (dpi). Os animais do GC foram acompanhados até 140 dias de idade. A infecção pelo PCV2 foi avaliada através da descrição das manifestações clínicas, alterações anatômicas e histológicas, quantificação do DNA de PCV2 nas amostras de soro, suabes e tecidos e detecção de anticorpo anti-PCV2 no soro. As técnicas utilizadas foram coloração de tecido pela Hematoxilina-Eosina (HE), reação em cadeia pela polimerase quantitativa (PCRq), imunohistoquímica (IHQ) e ELISA ( do inglês enzyme-linked imunossorbente assay). Os resultados demonstraram que o isolado brasileiro induziu infecção subclínica nos animais inoculados (G1), demonstrado através da detecção de baixa carga de DNA viral nos tecido e soros, ausência de sinais clínicos e achados histopatológicos característicos de PCVAD, além da ausência de soroconversão nos três animais inoculados. A transmissão horizontal foi demonstrada, pois em um animal contactante (G2) foi recuperado o DNA de PCV2 em vários tecidos. No entanto, a ausência de soroconversão, não permitiu avaliar a resposta imune humoral nos diferentes grupos (G1 e G2). Fatores como idade dos animais no momento da inoculação (49 dias), via de inoculação, inóculo e ausência de co-agentes podem ter contribuído para o desencadeamento dos resultados observados. / Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is responsible for the porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD) that encompasses several clinical conditions. It affects the main pig producing areas of the world, causing extensive damage. Currently, knowledge about the complex pathogenesis associated with the multiple risk factors provides insight into the true impact of PCVADs, depending on the extensive knowledge based on the experimental infections. The aims of this study were: i) verify the infectivity of the brazilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; ii) verify the horizontal transmission of the Brazilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; iii) evaluete the patology of Brasilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; iv) evaluete the humoral immune response in experimentally infected animals with the Brazilian isolate. Nine piglets were divided into three groups with three animal each: i) G1 inoculated animals by intranasally route, with approximately 49 days of age; ii) G2 non-inoculated animals maintained in the same pen that G1 and iii) GC control animals. Serum samples, swabs (nasal and fecal) and performance data were collected weekly. Tissue samples were collected during necropsy at 42 days post inoculation (dpi). Animals from GC were monitored up to 140 days of age. PCV2 infection was evaluated by clinical, anatomical and histological alteration, quantification of PCV2 DNA in serum samples, swabs and tissues and detection of PCV2 antibodies in serum. The techniques of tissue hematoxylin-eosin staining, polymerase chain reaction quantitative (PCRq), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ELISA were used. The results showed that the Brazilian PCV2 virus induced subclinical infection in inoculated animals (G1), shown by the low viral DNA load in the tissue and serum, the lack of clinical and pathological signs of PCVAD and absence of seroconversion in the three inoculated animals. The horizontal transmission was demonstrated by the recovery of the viral DNA on one of contacting animals in various tissues. However, the absence of seroconversion, does not allowed the antibody levels evaluation in the different groups (G1 and G2). Factors such as age at the time of inoculation (49 days), route of inoculation, inoculum and absence of co-agents may contribute to the onset of the observed results.

Circovírus suíno 2 (PCV2) é responsável pelas doenças associadas ao circovírus suíno (PCVAD do inglês Porcine circovirus associated disease) que engloba várias condições clínicas. Acomete suínos nas principais áreas produtoras do mundo causando grandes prejuízos. A situação acerca do conhecimento acerca da complexa patogenia e os múltiplos fatores de risco permitem compreender apenas em parte o verdadeiro impacto das PCVADs em suínos, sendo este um conhecimento mais amplo e dependente de resultados obtidos com infecções experimentais. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: i) verificar a infectividade do isolado brasileiro de PCV2 em animais infectados experimentalmente; ii) verificar a transmissão horizontal do isolado brasileiro de PCV2 em animais infectados experimentalmente; iii) avaliar a patologia do isolado brasileiro nos animais infectados experimentalmente; e iv) avaliar a resposta imune humoral nos animais infectados experimentalmente com o isolado brasileiro. Foram utilizados nove leitões divididos em três grupos com três animais cada: i) G1 animais inoculados por via intra-nasal, com aproximadamente 49 dias de idade; ii) G2 animais não inoculados mantidos na mesma baia que os G1; e iii) GC animais controle. Amostras de soro, suabes (nasal e fecal) e dados de desempenho foram coletados semanalmente. Amostras de tecidos foram coletadas durante a necropsia, aos 42 dias após a inoculação (dpi). Os animais do GC foram acompanhados até 140 dias de idade. A infecção pelo PCV2 foi avaliada através da descrição das manifestações clínicas, alterações anatômicas e histológicas, quantificação do DNA de PCV2 nas amostras de soro, suabes e tecidos e detecção de anticorpo anti-PCV2 no soro. As técnicas utilizadas foram coloração de tecido pela Hematoxilina-Eosina (HE), reação em cadeia pela polimerase quantitativa (PCRq), imunohistoquímica (IHQ) e ELISA ( do inglês enzyme-linked imunossorbente assay). Os resultados demonstraram que o isolado brasileiro induziu infecção subclínica nos animais inoculados (G1), demonstrado através da detecção de baixa carga de DNA viral nos tecido e soros, ausência de sinais clínicos e achados histopatológicos característicos de PCVAD, além da ausência de soroconversão nos três animais inoculados. A transmissão horizontal foi demonstrada, pois em um animal contactante (G2) foi recuperado o DNA de PCV2 em vários tecidos. No entanto, a ausência de soroconversão, não permitiu avaliar a resposta imune humoral nos diferentes grupos (G1 e G2). Fatores como idade dos animais no momento da inoculação (49 dias), via de inoculação, inóculo e ausência de co-agentes podem ter contribuído para o desencadeamento dos resultados observados. / Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is responsible for the porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD) that encompasses several clinical conditions. It affects the main pig producing areas of the world, causing extensive damage. Currently, knowledge about the complex pathogenesis associated with the multiple risk factors provides insight into the true impact of PCVADs, depending on the extensive knowledge based on the experimental infections. The aims of this study were: i) verify the infectivity of the brazilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; ii) verify the horizontal transmission of the Brazilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; iii) evaluete the patology of Brasilian PCV2 in experimentally infected animals; iv) evaluete the humoral immune response in experimentally infected animals with the Brazilian isolate. Nine piglets were divided into three groups with three animal each: i) G1 inoculated animals by intranasally route, with approximately 49 days of age; ii) G2 non-inoculated animals maintained in the same pen that G1 and iii) GC control animals. Serum samples, swabs (nasal and fecal) and performance data were collected weekly. Tissue samples were collected during necropsy at 42 days post inoculation (dpi). Animals from GC were monitored up to 140 days of age. PCV2 infection was evaluated by clinical, anatomical and histological alteration, quantification of PCV2 DNA in serum samples, swabs and tissues and detection of PCV2 antibodies in serum. The techniques of tissue hematoxylin-eosin staining, polymerase chain reaction quantitative (PCRq), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ELISA were used. The results showed that the Brazilian PCV2 virus induced subclinical infection in inoculated animals (G1), shown by the low viral DNA load in the tissue and serum, the lack of clinical and pathological signs of PCVAD and absence of seroconversion in the three inoculated animals. The horizontal transmission was demonstrated by the recovery of the viral DNA on one of contacting animals in various tissues. However, the absence of seroconversion, does not allowed the antibody levels evaluation in the different groups (G1 and G2). Factors such as age at the time of inoculation (49 days), route of inoculation, inoculum and absence of co-agents may contribute to the onset of the observed results.

Circovirus suíno 2 (PCV2) associado a doenças (PCVAD do inglês Porcine circovirus associated disease) pode se manifestar como infecção sistêmica, enterite, problemas reprodutivos, síndrome de dermatite e nefropatia suína e complexo de doenças respiratórias (PRDC). A ocorrência de PRDC, que afeta, principalmente, animais de crescimento e terminação, caracteriza-se por crescimento lento, tosse prolongada e dispnéia, assim como lesões macroscópicas características em pulmão. PCV2 possui três principais regiões abertas de leitura (ORFs): ORF-1 codifica proteínas envolvidas na replicação (gene Rep); ORF-2 codifica proteína estrutural do capsídeo (gene Cap) e ORF-3 codifica proteína envolvida na indução de apoptose celular. O gene Cap é a região mais variável do PCV2, havendo indícios da associação entre a proteína Cap e patogenicidade. De acordo com a nomenclatura unificada proposta por Segalés et al., três diferentes genótipos são atualmente reconhecidos (PCV2a, - 2b, -2c). O aumento na incidência e gravidade da PCVAD foi atribuído ao surgimento do PCV2b tornando-se o mais prevalente subtipo em países da América do Norte, Europa, e no Brasil. Diante dos prejuízos que a PRDC acarreta, 200 amostras de pulmão com e sem lesões pneumônicas macroscópicas foram analisadas para PCV2 pela PCR; 88,5 % (177/200) foram positivas para PCV2 por PCR corroborando com estudos em que o PCV2 foi encontrado em um grande numero de amostras e poderia desenvolver um papel da PRDC. Entretanto, não houve associação significativa entre amostras positivas e presença ou ausência de lesões pneumônicas macroscópicas (p=0,26). A análise filogenética de 27 amostras PCV2 positivas sequênciadas (22 genoma completo e cinco ORF-2 completa) foram agrupadas no genótipo PCV2b. Devido à alta identidade de nucleotídeos e aminoácidos entre as sequencias obtidas e as recuperadas de estudos anteriores com presença e ausência de PCVAD, não há indícios de associação entre patogenicidade e o subtipo de PCV2 identificado neste trabalho / Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) associated disease (PCVAD) may manifest as systemic infection, enteritis, reproductive problems, dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome and porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). The occurrence of PRDC, which affects mainly the growing and finishing animals, characterized by slow growth, prolonged cough and dyspnea, as well as characteristic gross lesions in the lungs. PCV2 has three main regions denominated open reading frames (ORFs): ORF-1 encodes a protein involved in replication (Rep gene), ORF-2 encodes the capsid structural protein (Cap gene) and ORF-3 encodes a protein involved in the induction of cellular apoptosis. The Cap gene is the most variable region of PCV2, with evidence of association between the Cap protein and pathogenicity. According to an unified nomenclature proposed by Ségales et al., three different subtypes are currently recognized (PCV2a,-2b-2c). The increased incidence and severity of PCVAD was attributed to the rise of PCV2b becoming the most prevalent subtype in countries of North America, Europe, and Brazil. Given the damage that leads to PRDC, 200 samples of lungs with and without macroscopic pneumonic lesions were analyzed for PCV2 by PCR; 88.5% (177/200) were positive for PCV2 by PCR corroborating with studies in which PCV2 was found in a large number of samples and could develop a role in PRDC. However, there was no significant association between positive samples and the presence or absence of macroscopic pneumonic lesions (p=0.26). Phylogenetic analysis of the 27 samples PCV2 positive sequenced (22 complete genome and five complete ORF-2) were grouped in genotype PCV2b. Due to the high identity between the nucleotide and amino acid sequences obtained and retrieved from previous studies with presence and absence of PCVAD, there is no evidence of association between subtype and pathogenicity of PCV2 identified in this work

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Robert D. Goodband / A total of 5,480 pigs involving 10 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 evaluated 3 feeder gap settings: 1.27, 1.91, or 2.54 cm, while Exp. 2 evaluated the effects of feeder trough space (4.45 vs. 8.9 cm/pig) and minimum feeder gap opening of 1.27 vs. 2.54 cm. In Exp. 1, pigs fed with increasing feeder gap had decreased (linear; P < 0.03) G:F due to increased (linear; P <0.02) ADFI. In Exp. 2, there was a tendency (P = 0.08) for increased ADG as feeder trough space increased from 4.45 to 8.9 cm/pig. Pigs fed with the wide feeder gap setting had increased (P < 0.01) ADFI and decreased (P < 0.01) G:F compared to pigs with the narrow feeder gap setting. Experiments 3 and 4 were conducted to determine the effects of diet form (meal vs. pellet) and feeder design (conventional dry vs. wet-dry) on finisher pig performance. In Exp. 3, pigs fed pelleted diets or via a wet-dry feeder had greater (P < 0.07 and 0.01, respectively) ADG then those fed meal diets or with a dry feeder. Diet × feeder interactions (P < 0.02) were observed for G:F. When pelleted diets were presented in dry feeders, G:F decreased, while no difference in G:F was observed between meal and pelleted diets presented in wet-dry feeders. In Exp. 4, pigs fed with wet-dry feeders had increased (P < 0.02) ADG and ADFI compared to those with dry feeders, while pigs presented pelleted diets had improved (P = 0.05) G:F compared to those presented meal diets. Experiments 5 to 9 were conducted to determine the effects of porcine intestinal mucosa products, PEP2+, Peptone 50, and PEP-NS, on the growth performance of nursery pigs. In Exp. 5, pigs fed increasing PEP2 had increased (quadratic; P < 0.02) overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F with the greatest response observed at 4% PEP2. In Exp. 6, pigs fed PEP2 had improved (P < 0.03) G:F compared to pigs fed select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) and increasing PEP2 improved (quadratic; P < 0.04) G:F with the greatest improvement seen when diets contained 4% PEP2. In Exp. 7 pigs fed PEP2+, Peptone 50 and PEP-NS had increased (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed a negative control diet. In Exp. 8, pigs fed diets containing 6% SMFM, PEP2+, or PEP-NS had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed the negative control or 6% Peptone 50. In Exp. 9, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and G:F, with the greatest improvement observed in pigs fed 6% PEP-NS. Experiment 10 evaluated the effects of Liquitein and PCV2/M. hyo vaccine regimen on the growth performance of weanling pigs. Overall, there were no effects of Liquitein on growth performance and vaccinated pigs had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI compared to non-vaccinated pigs.

<p>Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se na osnovu praćenja titra antitela klase G kod prasadi i tovljenika utvrdi uticaj vakcinacije na visinu titra antitela specifičnih za PCV2, kao i da se utvrdi uticaj vakcinacije na proizvodne osobine svinja.<br />Mere imunoprofilakse, koje se ipak smatraju nezamenljivim u kontroli ove bolesti kod nas do sada nisu bile deo kontrole, nasuprot velikom broju vakcinisanih krmača i prasadi u svetu. Iz tog razloga, kao i činjenica da u na&scaron;oj zemlji nisu preduzimana ozbiljnija istraživanja, rezultati ispitivanja efikasnosti Ingelvac@ CircoFLEX vakcine proizvođača Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim/Rhein, Germany, mogli bi predstavljati solidnu osnovu za eventualno uključivanje pomenute vakcine u tehnologiju preveniranja cirkovirusnih infekcija u na&scaron;im zapatima svinja.<br />Ogled je urađen na 900 prasadi podeljenih u 3 grupe po 300 prasadi. Prva grupa (A) vakcinisana je 15. dana života, druga (B) 21. dana , dok je treća grupa (C) bila kontrolna. Određivanje visine titra antitela specifičnih za PCV2 utvrđeno je indirektnom ELISA metodom.<br />Na sam dan vakcinacije sva prasad su pokazala prisustvo antitela specifičnih za PCV2. Najveći titar antitela konstatovan je 7 dana nakon vakcinacije u grupi B i iznosio je 9,63, u grupi A 8,59, a u grupi C 7.33. Najniže prosečne vrednosti tira antitela kod vakcinisanih grupa utvrđene su 35. dana a najvi&scaron;e 90.dana nakon vakcinacije. U kontrolnoj grupi od momenta početka ogleda prosečan titar opada kontinuirano do 60. dana, nakon čega titar antitela speifičnih za PCV2 ima tendenciju rasta. Vakcinisana prasad imala su signifikanto veći prosečni dnevni prirast (+54g/dan kod A grupe i + 60g/dan kod Bgrupe), niži mortalitet (- 1.67% kod A grupe i - 2.67% kod B grupe) i niži procenat &scaron;kartova ( A grupa -5.67% i B grupa -6%). u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu.<br />Daleko bolji rezultati dobijeni su kod prasadi iz grupe B, pa bi vakcinacija prasadi 21. dana života imala nesumnjivu prednost u odnosu na vakcinaciju 15. dana života, sa napomenom da je 15. dana života daleko veći uticaj maternalnih antitela na stvaranje i na razvoj sopstvenog imunolo&scaron;kog odgovora prasadi nakon vakcinacije.<br />U na&scaron;im ispitivanjima konstatovani su povoljni efekti u svim fazama ogleda, te stoga primenjena vakcina zaslužuje da bude deo svakog zdravstvenog programa koji se primenjuje u proizvodnji kvalitetnih i zdravih svinja.</p> / <p>The aim of this research was to determine the effect of vaccination on the amount of antibody titers specific for PCV2, and to determine the effect of vaccination on characteristics of pig production, based on the observed class G antibody titers in piglets and fattener pigs.<br />Immunoprophylaxis measures, that are still considered indispensable in this disease prevention have not been part of the control in our country, as opposed to a large number of vaccinated sows and piglets in the world. For this reason and the fact that significant researches are not undertaken in our country, the results of Ingelvac@ CircoFLEX vaccine efficiency testing of manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim/Rhein, Germany, could constitute a solid basis for the eventual inclusion of this vaccine in prevent tecnology of circovirus infections in our swine herds.<br />The experiment was conducted on 900 piglets divided into 3 groups of 300 piglets. The first group (A) was vaccinated at 15 days old, the second (B) at 21 days old while the third group (C) was the control group. Determining the antibody titers specific for PCV2 was performed by an indirect ELISA method.<br />On the day of vaccination, all pigs showed the presence of antibodies specific for PCV2. The highest antibody titer was found 7 days after vaccination in group B and was 9.63; in group A it was 8.59, while in group C the value was 7.33. The lowest values of antibody titers in vaccinated groups were found on 35th day and the highest on 90th day after vaccination. In the control group, from the moment the trial started, the average titer decreased continuously until the 60th day, after which the antibody titer specific for PCV2 tended to rise. Vaccinated piglets had significantly greater average daily weight gain (+54 g/day in group A; +60 g/day in group B), lower mortality (-1.67% in group A; -2.67% in group B) and a lower percentage of rejects (-5.67% group A; -6% group B) compared to the control group.<br />Group B piglets attained the best results, so the vaccination of piglets at 21 days old would have an advantage compared to vaccination at 15 days old, although we note that at 15 days old, there is a far greater influence of maternal antibodies on the creation and development of immune responses in the piglets after vaccination.<br />In our examinations the favorable effects at all stages of the experiment are ascertained, therefore applied vaccine deserves to be part of any health program which is applied in the production of high-quality and healthy pigs.</p>

O Circovirus suíno tipo 2 (PCV2) é um vírus ubíquo que tem sido associado a um número de síndromes em suínos. Entre elas, a Síndrome Multissistêmica do Definhamento dos Suínos (SMDS) tornou-se uma das principais causas de perdas econômicas na suinocultura nacional. No entanto, existe incerteza se o PCV2 é, de fato, o único agente responsável por esse quadro, essencialmente porque a administração isolada do vírus a animais suscetíveis não tem sido capaz de reproduzir experimentalmente a síndrome. Em vista disso, um número de outros agentes infecciosos (e não infecciosos) tem sido examinados e sua potencial participação no desenvolvimento da SMDS tem sido pesquisada. No presente estudo foram realizados experimentos visando determinar se outro(s) agente(s) com genoma de DNA circular poderia(m) desempenhar algum papel no desenvolvimento da SMDS. Para tanto, a técnica denominada “amplificação por círculo rolante com múltiplos primers” (ACRMP) foi empregada. A ACRMP é baseada na atividade da DNA polimerase do fago phi29, uma enzima capaz de sintetizar novas moléculas de DNA a partir de um molde de DNA circular. Numa segunda etapa, o DNA amplificado é clivado com enzimas de restrição, ocasionando a linearização de grande quantidade de cópias do DNA alvo original. Como a ACRMP é realizada com primers aleatórios, nenhum conhecimento prévio da seqüência de nucleotídeos alvo é necessário. Portanto, pode-se teoricamente amplificar DNA circular de qualquer microorganismo, o que a torna ideal para o propósito do presente estudo. O DNA extraído de soros de 67 suínos com sinais clínicos de SMDS, assim como de 63 suínos saudáveis, foram submetidos à ACRMP. O principal achado deste estudo foi que o genoma de um (ou mais) anelovírus foi(ram) detectado(s) em 88,9% (56/63) dos suínos saudáveis, ao passo que o(s) mesmo(s) agente(s) somente foi(ram) detectado(s) em 16,4% (11/67) dos soros de suínos com sinais clínicos da SMDS. Alguns fragmentos de DNA potencialmente correspondentes a fragmentos de genomas virais foram seqüenciados, revelando que pelo menos um deles corresponde a uma seqüência de anelovírus suíno ainda não descrita. No entanto, outro genoma correspondente a um anelovírus foi encontrado na mesma amostra, sugerindo que mais de um vírus pode estar presente em amostras de soro. Estes resultados demonstraram que os anelovírus, de grande variabilidade genética, são significativamente mais prevalentes em suínos clinicamente saudáveis do que em suínos com SMDS. / Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an ubiquitous virus that has been associated to a number of syndromes in swine. Among these, Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) has become a major cause of economic losses in swine worldwide. However, there is uncertainty as to whether PCV2 is in fact the sole agent responsible for the disease, essentially because the disease has not been experimentally reproduced when PCV2 is inoculated onto susceptible animals. In view of that, a number of other infectious (and non infectious) agents have been examined and their potential role in PMWS searched for. This study was carried out to determine whether any other agent(s) with circular DNA genome might be playing some role in PMWS. In order to achieve that, a technique called “randomly primed rolling circle amplification” (RPRCA) was employed. RPRCA is based on the activity of bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase, an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA molecules starting from a circularized DNA template. In a second phase, the amplified DNA is cleaved with restriction enzymes, so giving rise to large amounts of linearized copies of the original target DNA. As RPRCA is performed with random priming, no previous knowledge of the target nucleotide sequence is necessary. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to amplify circular DNA of any microorganism, thus making it ideal for the purpose of the present study. DNA extracted from sera of 67 pigs with clinical signs of PMWS as well as from 63 healthy pigs was submitted to RPRCA. The major finding of this study was that the genome of one (or more) anelloviruses was detected in 88,9% (56/63) of the healthy pigs, whereas the same agent was only detected in 16,4% (11/67) of pigs with clinical signs of PMWS. Some of the DNA fragments corresponding to the putative virus genomes were sequenced and revealed at least one non-previously described anellovirus sequence. However, other anellovirus could be found on the same sample, suggesting that more than one genome are present in samples of serum. These results demonstrate that anelovírus, of great genetic variability, were significantly more prevalent in healthy pigs than in pigs with PMWS.