• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2018

The capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2) is important for neutralizing activity against PCV2 infection. This study investigated the heterogeneity of the ORF2 gene of PCV2 isolated in Korea during 2016-2017. The results revealed that PCV2d is currently the predominant genotype. Moreover, comparison of ORF2 from 17 PCV2 isolates revealed 88.3-100% homology at the nucleotide (deduced amino acid 86.3-100%) level. Interestingly, 61.5% (8/13) of the PCV2d isolates had glycine at position 210. These data provide a useful information for PCV2 epidemiology in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

Porcine circovirus (PCV) is a small, nonenveloped virus that contains a single-stranded circular DNA genome of about 1.76 kb and belongs to the family circoviridae. The PCV-2 has been incriminated as the cause of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) , an emerging disease in pigs. In the present study, a PCR assay was applied to detect PCV-2 in tissue samples. The presence of PCV-2 antigen in the porcine tissues was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) with PCV-2 specific monoclonal antibodies. And then DNA extracted from PCV-2 positive tissues was used as a template. One oligonucleotide primer suitable for PCR was selected from a published PCV-2 sequence (Genbank). Amplified PCR product was detected the same fragment lengths of 416 bp as a control. Based on these results, it was suggested that the PCR is a simple and sensitive method for support diagnostic purposes.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.49.1-49.13
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• 2022

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHP) are economically significant pathogens in the pig industry. The use of combined vaccines against PCV2 and MHP is one of the most effective ways of protecting pigs from both diseases, and it has become a part of general management. Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of two new bivalent vaccines of PCV2 and MHP (Myco-X and Myco-XD) in SPF pigs. Myco-X and Myco-XD are a combined vaccine of MHP with PCV2b and PCV2d, respectively. Methods: Sixteen pigs were divided into four groups: Myco-X-vaccinated challenged, Myco-XD-vaccinated challenged, unvaccinated challenged, and unvaccinated unchallenged. Two milliliters of Myco-X were administered intramuscularly, and 0.5 mL of Myco-XD was injected intradermally at 3 wk of age. The pigs were challenged with virulent PCV2d via the intramuscular and intranasal route 4 wk post-vaccination. Results: All vaccinated pigs showed effective reduction of the clinical signs, the PCV2d load in the blood and nasal swab samples, as well as lung and lymphoid tissue lesions in the challenge test. Compared to unvaccinated challenged animals, the vaccinated challenged animals showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of anti-PCV2 IgG, PCV2d-specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and anti-MHP IgG. Conclusions: Based on clinical, microbiological, serological, and pathological assessments, this study confirmed that both combined vaccines could protect pigs against PCV2 infection caused by PCV2d. On the other hand, further research on the efficacy evaluation of these new vaccines against the MHP challenge and PCV2d/MHP co-challenge is needed.

• Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2017

The current study identified risk factors associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on pig farms in the Republic of Korea using a multinomial logistic regression model to evaluate the PCV2 infection status of pigs at different growth stages. Compulsory disinfection of visitors (odds ratio [OR]: 0.019, 95% confidence interval [CI]: <0.001-0.378, p=0.0095), compulsory registration of visitors (OR: 0.002, 95% CI: <0.001-0.184, p=0.0070), regular blood testing (OR: 0.012, 95% CI: <0.001-0.157, p=0.0007), and running on-farm biosecurity learning programs for workers (OR: 0.156, 95% CI: 0.040-0.604, p=0.0072 and OR: 0.201, 95% CI: 0.055-0.737, p=0.0155, respectively) were identified as factors which could reduce the risk of PCV2 infection. However, visitation by a regular veterinarian (OR: 32.733, 95% CI: 3.768-284.327, p=0.0016) was associated with PCV2 infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2011

A surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) assay was developed for measuring porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antibody using a recombinant capsid protein as an antigen. The diagnostic potential of SPRI for detecting antibodies to the PCV2 capsid protein was compared with that of a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 70 pig serum samples taken from 6 pig farms. There was a strong positive correlation between the SPRI and ELISA (n = 70, r = 0.911, P<0.01). Therefore, this recombinant capsid protein can be used as an antigen for serological studies, and the SPRI, a label-free and high-throughput method, is expected to be a valuable tool in the serodiagnosis of PCV2 infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.11
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• 2021

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an important infectious pathogen implicated in porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), which has caused significant economic losses in the pig industry worldwide. Objectives: A suitable viral vector-mediated gene transfer platform for the expression of the capsid protein (Cap) is an attractive strategy. Methods: In the present study, a recombinant adeno-associated virus 8 (rAAV8) vector was constructed to encode Cap (Cap-rAAV) in vitro and in vivo after gene transfer. Results: The obtained results showed that Cap could be expressed in HEK293T cells and BABL/c mice. The results of lymphocytes proliferative, as well as immunoglobulin G (IgG) 2a and interferon-γ showed strong cellular immune responses induced by Cap-rAAV. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers obtained and the IgG1 and interleukin-4 levels showed that humoral immune responses were also induced by Cap-rAAV. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the rAAV8 vaccine Cap-rAAV can induce strong cellular and humoral immune responses, indicating a potential rAAV8 vaccine against PCV2. Conclusions: The injection of rAAV8 encoding PCV2 Cap genes into muscle tissue can ensure long-term, continuous, and systemic expression.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have been suspected to have immunosuppressive effects on pigs. To investigate the correlation between these virus infection and the lesions of lymph nodes including sub-mandibular and inguinal lymph node, 44 pigs (PCV2 single, n = 14; PRRSV single, n = 10; PCV2/PRRSV, n = 14; negative control, n = 6) were examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Histopathologically, granulomatous lymphadenitis characterized by lymphoid depletion with histiocytic cells infiltration was observed in PCV-2 single and PCV-2/PRRSV group. Immunohistochemically, there were significant reduction of B and T lymphocytes in lymph nodes of these groups, while the number of macrophages was increased. In only PRRSV infected group, germinal center hypertrophy and lymphoid necrosis were observed. Immunohistochemically, the number of CD3+ T lymphocytes was slightly increased. Severe lymphocytic depletion in PCV-2 infection-related lymph nodes might be associated with producing immunocompromised state in pig. Comparing with PCV-2 infected group, PRRSV produced minor effects on the changes in immune cell population in the lymph nodes of pigs. PRRSV may increase susceptibility of the disease in pigs by disruption of the first defense lines in target organs, such as the alveolar macrophages in lungs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2018

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are known as significant immunosuppressive viruses in pigs. In this study, we investigated the correlation of PCV2 and PRRSV in enteric lesions of porcine salmonellosis. A total of 64 cases were classified into four pig groups as group A (24 cases, S. Typhimurium), group B (11 cases, S. Typhimurium+PCV2), group C (16 cases, S. Typhimurium+PRRSV) and group D (13 cases, S. Typhimurium+PCV2+PRRSV). Comparing with group A, ulcerative enteritis in large intestine was little more prevalent in the PCV2 infected pigs in group B and D. And lymphoid depletion in gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT) of large intestine was also detected in PCV2 positive group B (36.4%) and D (30.8%). According to the results of immunohistochemistry (IHC), PCV2 antigens (83.3%) were more prevalently distributed in the intestinal lesions of porcine salmonellosis than PRRSV antigens (10.3%). PCV2 were also detected in the lymphoid depleted GALT of the large intestine from 7 of the 8 pigs (87.5%), but PRRSV were not found in all cases. It may explain that PCV2 can play a certain immunological role to enhance secondary bacterial infection in porcine alimentary tracts.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2020

From 2006 to 2009, 50 pigs suspected of enteritis associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) (EAPC) were collected. Gross and histopathologic examinations and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on the small intestine of 50 pigs. The pigs with EAPC were concentrated in grower pigs (68%), and diarrhea (84%) was the most common clinical sign. Grossly, the walls of the small intestine were thickened, and mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged. The histopathologic features in the small intestine with EAPC were characterized by lymphoid depletion, histiocytic infiltration, and formation of basophilic grape-like inclusion bodies and multinucleated giant cells in gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT) and lamina propria. According to IHC, PCV-2 antigens were more intense and distributed widely in GALT (98%) than lamina propria (82%) of the small intestine. Co-infection with other enteric pathogens was detected in 26 pigs (52%). Twenty-four pigs (48%) were confirmed to be a PCV-2 single infection. Collectively, infected PCV-2 in the small intestine may induce an immunosuppressive status of individuals and then allow secondary co-infections in the digestive system. This study shows that PCV-2 can induce diarrhea and enteric lesions in pigs without a co-infection of other enteric pathogens.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.28.1-28.11
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• 2024

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection is ubiquitous around the world. Diagnosis of the porcine circovirus-associated disease requires clinic-pathological elements together with the quantification of viral loads. Furthermore, given pig farms in regions lacking access to sufficient laboratory equipment, developing diagnostic devices with high accuracy, accessibility, and affordability is a necessity. Objectives: This study aims to investigate two newly developed diagnostic tools that may satisfy these criteria. Methods: We collected 250 specimens, including 170 PCV2-positive and 80 PCV2-negative samples. The standard diagnosis and cycle threshold (Ct) values were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Then, two point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platforms, convective polymerase chain reaction (cPCR, qualitative assay: positive or negative results are shown) and EZtargex (quantitative assay: Ct values are shown), were examined and analyzed. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of cPCR were 88.23% and 100%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of EZtargex were 87.65% and 100%, respectively. These assays also showed excellent concordance compared with the qPCR assay (κ = 0.828 for cPCR and κ = 0.820 for EZtargex). The statistical analysis showed a great diagnostic power of the EZtargex assay to discriminate between samples with different levels of positivity. Conclusions: The two point-of-care diagnostic platforms are accurate, rapid, convenient and require little training for PCV2 diagnosis. These POC platforms can discriminate viral loads to predict the clinical status of the animals. The current study provided evidence that these diagnostics were applicable with high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of PCV2 infection in the field.