A case report of porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) reproductive disease in Iberian semi-outdoor reared sows

Abstract

Background: Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) is a recently discovered swine pathogen associated with reproductive disease. To date, clinical problems linked to PCV3 have been described in intensive rearing pig farms. The present case describes an Iberian semi-outdoors sow farm affected by PCV3 reproductive disease.

Case presentation: The affected farm was composed of 420 self-replaced Iberian sows, working in 3-week batches (60 sows per batch). The farm was free from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and had been previously affected by porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) reproductive disease, which was successfully managed through sow vaccination. In spring 2022, reproductive disease was noticed with a high increase in the number of mummified foetuses and stillborn piglets from gilts as the most remarkable finding; multiparous sows were not affected. A first analysis with pooled stillborn tissues ruled out most swine reproductive pathogens and revealed detection of PCV3. To further elucidate PCV3 implication in the reproductive disease, a complete post-mortem examination of stillborn and mummified foetuses from two affected litters was conducted. Pooled tissue samples yielded high PCV3 loads by quantitative PCR. Grossly, one (out of 5) stillborn had an enlarged, flaccid heart. Histopathological evaluation revealed PCV3 lesions consisting of lymphohistiocytic and systemic periarteritis (3/5). The grossly affected heart had lymphohistiocytic myocarditis with fibrosis and lymphohistiocytic endocarditis. By in situ hybridization, high amounts of PCV3 genome were observed within histological lesions. Moreover, immunohistochemistry against PRRSV and PCV2 resulted negative in the same tissues.

Conclusions: This is the first report of PCV3 reproductive disease in a semi-extensive production Iberian pig farm, affecting exclusively gilts. Moreover, this is the first description of grossly apparent myocarditis associated to PCV3 infection. Therefore, PCV3 should be considered within the differential diagnostic list of swine reproductive problems in non-intensive pig rearing production.

Keywords: Extensive; In situ hybridization (ISH); Myocarditis; PCV3 reproductive disease (PCV3-RD); Periarteritis; Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3); Reproductive disease; Semi-outdoor.

Fig. 1

Postmortem examination of stillborn foetus (animal No. 2). (A) Severe generalized oedema (anasarca) of the autolytic foetus. (B) Grossly evident cardiomyopathy featuring a severe dilation of both ventriculus and depressed reddish areas (red arrow). The lung showed melanosis (black spots), which is a usual finding of Iberian pigs with no disease implications. (C) Histopathological evaluation of the heart reveals foci of mononuclear inflammation (top left) and areas devoid of cardiomyocytes and replaced by fibrous tissue (bottom right). (D) Masson trichrome stain confirms the presence of collagen fibres (blue colour) in the fibrosed areas. (E) ISH against PCV3 reveals moderate amount of PCV3 genome (red staining) within the cardiac tissue. (F) Mitral valve, showing subendocardial infiltration of mononuclear cells. (G) Mesenteric arteries displaying lymphohistiocytic periarteritis. (H) In the same mesenteric arteries, ISH against PCV3 reveals abundant viral genome (red staining) in the arterial walls and -to a lesser extent- within the inflammatory infiltrate