Porcine Circovirus: Difference between revisions

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{{Uncurated}}
=1. Classification=
=Classification=
==a. Higher order taxa==
==Higher order taxa==


Viruses do not have a domain, phylum or class. Thus, the taxa begins at order. Porcine circovirus is classified as follows:
Viruses do not have a domain, phylum or class. Thus, the taxa begins at order. ''Porcine circovirus'' is classified as follows:


''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=10239&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Viruses]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=29258&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ ssDNA viruses]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=39724&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Circoviridae]; [[Circovirus]]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=345249&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ unclassified Circovirus]''
''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=10239&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Viruses]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=29258&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ ssDNA viruses]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=39724&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Circoviridae]; [[Circovirus]]; [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=345249&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ unclassified Circovirus]''


==b. Species==
==Species==


[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=46221&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Porcine]
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=46221&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock/ Porcine]


=2. Description and significance=
=Description and Significance=
A ''[[Circovirus]]'' is a small ssDNA virus which can inhabit and infect several hosts. ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcine_circovirus/ Porcine circoviruses]'' commonly infect swine (2). There are two main serotypes: ''Porcine circovirus 1'' (PCV1) and ''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2). There is current research into another emerging serotype, ''Porcine circovirus 3'' (PCV3), which is very similar to PCV2, but is not yet an epidemic in swine (13). PCV1 is not known to demonstrate any sign of disease, whereas PCV2 can cause an illness called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcine_circovirus_associated_disease/ Porcine circovirus Associated Disease] (PCVAD), which causes [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Postweaning_multisystemic_wasting_syndrome&redirect=no/ Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome] (PMWS) (3, 4). ''Porcine circovirus'' has one of the highest evolution rates of DNA viruses and also has the capability to co-infecting hosts along with other pathogens. This can lead to more severe outbreaks and complex syndromes involving reproductive failure, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteritis/ enteritis] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonia/ pneumonia] (5).  
A ''[[Circovirus]]'' is a small ssDNA virus which can inhabit and infect several hosts. ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcine_circovirus Porcine circoviruses]'' commonly infect swine (2). There are two main serotypes: ''Porcine circovirus 1'' (PCV1) and ''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2). There is current research into another emerging serotype, ''Porcine circovirus 3'' (PCV3), which is very similar to PCV2, but is not yet an epidemic in swine (13). PCV1 is not known to demonstrate any sign of disease, whereas PCV2 can cause an illness called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcine_circovirus_associated_disease Porcine circovirus Associated Disease] (PCVAD), which causes [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Postweaning_multisystemic_wasting_syndrome&redirect=no Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome] (PMWS) (3, 4). ''Porcine circovirus'' has one of the highest evolution rates of DNA viruses and also has the capability to co-infecting hosts along with other pathogens. This can lead to more severe outbreaks and complex syndromes involving reproductive failure, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteritis enteritis] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonia pneumonia] (5).  


The ''Porcine circovirus'' has the smallest genome of any autonomously replicating virus (5). The small size of the genome presents many challenges when attempting to study the pathology of the virus in livestock. The ''[[circovirus]]'' can affect a variety of hosts (mostly livestock); moreover,  ''Porcine circovirus'' infection can have detrimental effects on agricultural business as it can kill off an entire swine herd, and hence cut into profits (6). Infection results in a high fatality rate in swine populations, even though a vaccine has been created to protect against PMWS. The ''circovirus’'' small genome allows for fast evolutionary adaption, permitting the virus to quickly gain resistance to these vaccines (5, 7). This is due to the fact that one or two mutations could have a huge effect on the virus, such as making a benign ''circovirus'' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen/ pathogenic] (3).
The ''Porcine circovirus'' has the smallest genome of any autonomously replicating virus (5). The small size of the genome presents many challenges when attempting to study the pathology of the virus in livestock. The ''[[circovirus]]'' can affect a variety of hosts (mostly livestock); moreover,  ''Porcine circovirus'' infection can have detrimental effects on agricultural business as it can kill off an entire swine herd, and hence cut into profits (6). Infection results in a high fatality rate in swine populations, even though a vaccine has been created to protect against PMWS. The ''circovirus’'' small genome allows for fast evolutionary adaption, permitting the virus to quickly gain resistance to these vaccines (5, 7). This is due to the fact that one or two mutations could have a huge effect on the virus, such as making a benign ''circovirus'' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen pathogenic] (3).


=3. Genome structure=
=Genome Structure=


The ''Porcine circovirus'' has two major [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotype/ serotypes], type 1 and type 2 (PCV1 and PCV2) and one emerging serotype, type 3 (PCV3) (13). PCV1 is known to be benign, while PCV2 is pathogenic (3, 4). ''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2) is a small, non-enveloped virus with a circular single-stranded DNA genome which is 1.76kb (6, 8). Since the genome of ''[[circovirus]]'' is small it also allows for more recombination events with other similar viruses. For example, it has been shown historically through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetics/ phylogenetic analysis] that a ''nanovirus'' and a ''[[circovirus]]'' at some point recombined, as a ''[[circovirus]]'' has some RNA segments in its genome even though it is a ssDNA virus (2). The DNA sequence similarity between the two serotypes, PCV1 and PCV2, is about 76% (9).
The ''Porcine circovirus'' has two major [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotype serotypes], type 1 and type 2 (PCV1 and PCV2) and one emerging serotype, type 3 (PCV3) (13). PCV1 is known to be benign, while PCV2 is pathogenic (3, 4). ''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2) is a small, non-enveloped virus with a circular single-stranded DNA genome which is 1.76kb (6, 8). Since the genome of ''[[circovirus]]'' is small it also allows for more recombination events with other similar viruses. For example, it has been shown historically through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetics phylogenetic analysis] that a ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanovirus nanovirus]'' and a ''[[circovirus]]'' at some point recombined, as a ''[[circovirus]]'' has some RNA segments in its genome even though it is a ssDNA virus (2). The DNA sequence similarity between the two serotypes, PCV1 and PCV2, is about 76% (9).


=4. Cell structure=
=Cell Structure=


''Porcine circovirus'' has a diameter of around 17 nm, thus making it the smallest animal virus studied with the capability of independent replication (8). ''Porcine circovirus'' is a non-enveloped virus assembled by a single [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsid/ capsid].
''Porcine circovirus'' has a diameter of around 17 nm, thus making it the smallest animal virus studied with the capability of independent replication (8). ''Porcine circovirus'' is a non-enveloped virus assembled into a single [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsid capsid].


=5. Metabolic processes=
=Metabolic Processes=
Viruses do not have their own metabolism, but instead take advantage of their host cells to replicate, transcribe, and translate. The PCV genome enters the host cell nucleus by inserting into daughter nuclei at the end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitosis/ mitosis] (10). The two proteins Rep and Rep’ are the replication initiator of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_reading_frame/ Open Reading Frame] (ORF) C1 transcript, which code for the capsid protein for ''porcine circovirus'' (10).
Viruses do not have their own metabolism, but instead take advantage of their host cells to replicate, transcribe, and translate. The PCV genome enters the host cell nucleus by inserting into daughter nuclei at the end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitosis mitosis] (10). The two proteins Rep and Rep’ are the replication initiator of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_reading_frame Open Reading Frame] (ORF) C1 transcript, which code for the capsid protein for ''porcine circovirus'' (10).


=6. Ecology=
=Ecology=
''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2) is highly infectious to swine. Studies determined that ''Porcine circovirus'' is a derivative of a former swine virus. The genome of the microbe and the cap (capsid) sequences of PCV2a and PCV2b viral genomes were aligned to determine any possible location of recombination in the sequence (11). Furthermore, ''circoviruses'' have been [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coevolution/ coevolving] with many different vertebrate organisms for millions of years (2, 11). In fact, the current evolutionary model of the ''Porcine circovirus'' is as follows: PCV2 is a virus that has long been associated with swine, and only recently has become infectious (11).
''Porcine circovirus 2'' (PCV2) is highly infectious to swine. Studies determined that ''Porcine circovirus'' is a derivative of a former swine virus. The genome of the microbe and the cap (capsid) sequences of PCV2a and PCV2b viral genomes were aligned to determine any possible location of recombination in the sequence (11). Furthermore, ''circoviruses'' have been [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coevolution coevolving] with many different vertebrate organisms for millions of years (2, 11). In fact, the current evolutionary model of the ''Porcine circovirus'' is as follows: PCV2 is a virus that has long been associated with swine, and only recently has become infectious (11).


=7. Pathology=
=Pathology=
Evidence shows that ''Porcine circovirus'' acts as an immunosuppressive agent which can open up the host to a secondary infection (3). It can lead to the development of Porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD) which are connected to many varying swine diseases (6). The most common disease that develops, within swine, is Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS). PMWS is commonly found in swine 6-8 weeks with enlarged lymph nodes, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice/ jaundice], and extreme loss of weight (3). Some swine show symptoms of respiratory distress and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_lung_disease/ interstitial pneumonia] (3). PMWS has a high fatality rate with infected swine. To prevent this disease vaccines and prevention strategies for PCV2a were developed. Prevention strategies included monitoring the health of weaning swine, avoid having a high density of swine together, and control the movement of swine between batches (3). This however has caused the evolution of the virus to serotype PCV2b in swine populations, thus reducing the potential for prevention (6, 7).
Evidence shows that ''Porcine circovirus'' acts as an immunosuppressive agent which can open up the host to a secondary infection (3). It can lead to the development of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcine_circovirus_associated_disease Porcine circovirus-associated diseases] (PCVAD) which are connected to many varying swine diseases (6). The most common disease that develops, within swine, is Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS). PMWS is commonly found in swine 6-8 weeks with enlarged lymph nodes, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaundice jaundice], and extreme loss of weight (3). Some swine show symptoms of respiratory distress and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_lung_disease interstitial pneumonia] (3). PMWS has a high fatality rate with infected swine. To prevent this disease vaccines and prevention strategies for PCV2a were developed. Prevention strategies included monitoring the health of weaning swine, avoid having a high density of swine together, and control the movement of swine between batches (3). This however has caused the evolution of the virus to serotype PCV2b in swine populations, thus reducing the potential for prevention (6, 7).


''Porcine circovirus'' is not a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis/ zoonotic agent], and therefore there is little concern for possible infection to humans (12).
''Porcine circovirus'' is not a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis zoonotic agent], and therefore there is little concern for possible infection to humans (12).


=7. Epidemiology=
=Epidemiology=
''Porcine circovirus'' is a global disease. In the United States and Italy, PCV3 was isolated and identified in 2015 (13). Researchers are currently working to reduce the rate of infection of PCV3 with epidemiological analysis of the virus. Ultimately, epidemiologists hope the virus will not spread as quickly as PCV2 and will therefore avoid becoming an epidemic in swine populations around the globe. As of 2017 Italy was the only EU country with PCV3 which seemed to have similar genetic properties to the virus found in the US (13).
''Porcine circovirus'' is a global disease. In the United States and Italy, PCV3 was isolated and identified in 2015 (13). Researchers are currently working to reduce the rate of infection of PCV3 with epidemiological analysis of the virus. Ultimately, epidemiologists hope the virus will not spread as quickly as PCV2 and will therefore avoid becoming an epidemic in swine populations around the globe. As of 2017 Italy was the only EU country with PCV3 which seemed to have similar genetic properties to the virus found in the US (13).


=8. Current Research=
=Current Research=
Currently, researchers are trying to characterize the complete genogroup of ''Porcine circovirus'' and its associated disease which may be involved in the epidemic of swine populations in many countries. This will help establish the preventive methods like vaccine production to resist the global outbreak of ''Porcine circovirus'' pathogens (14).  
Currently, researchers are trying to characterize the complete genogroup of ''Porcine circovirus'' and its associated disease which may be involved in the epidemic of swine populations in many countries. This will help establish the preventive methods like vaccine production to resist the global outbreak of ''Porcine circovirus'' pathogens (14).  


There is also current research in the epidemiology of an emerging serotype PCV3, and through the use of epidemiological analysis will keep the virus from becoming a new epidemic like PCV2 (13).
There is also current research in the epidemiology of an emerging serotype PCV3, and through the use of epidemiological analysis will keep the virus from becoming a new epidemic like PCV2 (13).


=9. References=
=References=


(1) Sayers EW, Barrett T, Benson DA, Bryant SH, Canese K, Chetvernin V, Church DM, DiCuccio M, Edgar R, Federhen S, Feolo M, Geer LY, Helmberg W, Kapustin Y, Landsman D, Lipman DJ, Madden TL, Maglott DR, Miller V, Mizrachi I, Ostell J, Pruitt KD, Schuler GD, Sequeira E, Sherry ST, Shumway M, Sirotkin K, Souvorov A, Starchenko G, Tatusova TA, Wagner L, Yaschenko E, Ye J (2009). Database resources of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Nucleic Acids Res. 2009 Jan;37(Database issue):D5-15. Epub 2008 Oct 21. [PubMed]
(1) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Root Sayers EW, Barrett T, Benson DA, Bryant SH, Canese K, Chetvernin V, Church DM, DiCuccio M, Edgar R, Federhen S, Feolo M, Geer LY, Helmberg W, Kapustin Y, Landsman D, Lipman DJ, Madden TL, Maglott DR, Miller V, Mizrachi I, Ostell J, Pruitt KD, Schuler GD, Sequeira E, Sherry ST, Shumway M, Sirotkin K, Souvorov A, Starchenko G, Tatusova TA, Wagner L, Yaschenko E, Ye J (2009). Database resources of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Nucleic Acids Res. 2009 Jan;37(Database issue):D5-15. Epub 2008 Oct 21. [PubMed]]




(2) Gibbs, Mark. Weiller, Georg. 1999. Evidence that a plant virus switched hosts to infect a vertebrate and then recombined with a vertebrate-infecting virus. PNAS 96 (14) 8022-8027; doi:10.1073/pnas.96.14.8022
(2) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC22181/ Gibbs, Mark. Weiller, Georg. 1999. Evidence that a plant virus switched hosts to infect a vertebrate and then recombined with a vertebrate-infecting virus. PNAS 96 (14) 8022-8027; doi:10.1073/pnas.96.14.8022]




(3) Ellis, J. Hassard, L. et al. 1998. Isolation of circovirus from lesions of pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. The Canadian Veterinary Journal 39 (1) 11-51.
(3) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1539838/ Ellis, J. Hassard, L. et al. 1998. Isolation of circovirus from lesions of pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. The Canadian Veterinary Journal 39 (1) 11-51.]




(4) Opriessnig, T., Gerbera, P., Matzinger, S., Meng, X., Halburb, P. 2017. Markedly different immune responses and virus kinetics in littermates infected with porcine circovirus type 2 or porcine parvovirus type 1. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 191(51).
(4) [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165242716301969?via%3Dihub Opriessnig, T., Gerbera, P., Matzinger, S., Meng, X., Halburb, P. 2017. Markedly different immune responses and virus kinetics in littermates infected with porcine circovirus type 2 or porcine parvovirus type 1. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 191(51).]




(5) Ramamoorthy, S. Meng, XJ. 2009. Porcine Circoviruses: a Minuscule Yet Mammoth Paradox. Anim Health Res Rev 10 (1017)
(5) [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/animal-health-research-reviews/article/porcine-circoviruses-a-minuscule-yet-mammoth-paradox/3E651A5241C72AA7883B0DF8A90EBEA7 Ramamoorthy, S. Meng, XJ. 2009. Porcine Circoviruses: a Minuscule Yet Mammoth Paradox. Anim Health Res Rev 10 (1017)]


(6) Hung, Ling-Chu. Cheng, Ivan-Chen. 2017. Versatile carboxyl-terminus of capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 were recognized by monoclonal antibodies with pluripotency of binding. Molecular Immunology 85; 100-110.


(6) [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161589017300354 Hung, Ling-Chu. Cheng, Ivan-Chen. 2017. Versatile carboxyl-terminus of capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 were recognized by monoclonal antibodies with pluripotency of binding. Molecular Immunology 85; 100-110.]


(7) Karuppannan, A K. Opriessnig, T. 2017. Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) Vaccines in the Context of Current Molecular Epidemiology. Viruses 9 (5): 99.


(8) Tischer, I. Gelderblom, H. Vettermann, W. Koch, MA. 1982. A very small porcine virus with circular single-stranded DNA. Nature: 295: 64-66.
(7) [http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/9/5/99 Karuppannan, A K. Opriessnig, T. 2017. Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) Vaccines in the Context of Current Molecular Epidemiology. Viruses 9 (5): 99.]




(9) Morozov, I. Sirinarumitr, T. Sorden, SD. Halbur, PG. Morgan, MK. Yoon, K. Paul, PS. 1998. Detection of a novel strain of porcine circovirus in pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. J. Clin. Microbiol: 36: 2535-41.
(8) [https://www.nature.com/articles/295064a0 Tischer, I. Gelderblom, H. Vettermann, W. Koch, MA. 1982. A very small porcine virus with circular single-stranded DNA. Nature: 295: 64-66.]


(10) Tischer, I. Peters, D. Rasch, R. Pociuli, S. 1987. Replication of porcine circovirus: induction by glucosamine and cell cycle dependence. Arch. Virol; 96: 39-57.


(9) [http://jcm.asm.org/content/36/9/2535.long Morozov, I. Sirinarumitr, T. Sorden, SD. Halbur, PG. Morgan, MK. Yoon, K. Paul, PS. 1998. Detection of a novel strain of porcine circovirus in pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. J. Clin. Microbiol: 36: 2535-41.]


(11) Firth, C. Charleston, MA. Duffy, S. Shapiro, B. Holmes, EC. 2009. Insights into the Evolutionary History of an Emerging Livestock Pathogen: Porcine Circovirus 2. J. Virol 83 (24) 12813-12821.


(12) Burbelo, P. Ragheb, J. Kapoor, A. Zhang, Y. 2013. The serological evidence in humans supports a negligible risk of zoonotic infection from porcine circovirus type 2. Biologicals 41 (6): 430-434.
(10) [https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF01310989.pdf Tischer, I. Peters, D. Rasch, R. Pociuli, S. 1987. Replication of porcine circovirus: induction by glucosamine and cell cycle dependence. Arch. Virol; 96: 39-57.]




(13) Faccini, S. Barbieri, I. Gilioli, A. Sala, G. Gibelli, LR. Moreno, A. Sacchi, C. Rosignoli, C. Franzini, G. Nigrelli, R. 2017. Detection and Genetic Characterization of Porcine Circovirus in Italy. Transbound Emerg Dis 10 (1111).
(11) [http://jvi.asm.org/content/83/24/12813.full Firth, C. Charleston, MA. Duffy, S. Shapiro, B. Holmes, EC. 2009. Insights into the Evolutionary History of an Emerging Livestock Pathogen: Porcine Circovirus 2. J. Virol 83 (24) 12813-12821.]


(14) Afolabi, KO. Iweriebor, BC. Okoh, AI. Obi, LC. 2017. Global Status of Porcine circovirus Type 2 and Its Associated Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adv Virol 2017: 6807964 doi: 10.1155/2017/6807964
 
(12) [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045105613001127?via%3Dihub Burbelo, P. Ragheb, J. Kapoor, A. Zhang, Y. 2013. The serological evidence in humans supports a negligible risk of zoonotic infection from porcine circovirus type 2. Biologicals 41 (6): 430-434.]
 
 
(13) [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tbed.12714/abstract;jsessionid=183BD9966E98BD67BB13381C4AB9052D.f02t01 Faccini, S. Barbieri, I. Gilioli, A. Sala, G. Gibelli, LR. Moreno, A. Sacchi, C. Rosignoli, C. Franzini, G. Nigrelli, R. 2017. Detection and Genetic Characterization of Porcine Circovirus in Italy. Transbound Emerg Dis 10 (1111).]
 
 
(14) [https://www.hindawi.com/journals/av/2017/6807964/ Afolabi, KO. Iweriebor, BC. Okoh, AI. Obi, LC. 2017. Global Status of Porcine circovirus Type 2 and Its Associated Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adv Virol 2017: 6807964 doi: 10.1155/2017/6807964]

Latest revision as of 02:31, 9 December 2017

This student page has not been curated.

Classification

Higher order taxa

Viruses do not have a domain, phylum or class. Thus, the taxa begins at order. Porcine circovirus is classified as follows:

Viruses; ssDNA viruses; Circoviridae; Circovirus; unclassified Circovirus

Species

Porcine

Description and Significance

A Circovirus is a small ssDNA virus which can inhabit and infect several hosts. Porcine circoviruses commonly infect swine (2). There are two main serotypes: Porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1) and Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2). There is current research into another emerging serotype, Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3), which is very similar to PCV2, but is not yet an epidemic in swine (13). PCV1 is not known to demonstrate any sign of disease, whereas PCV2 can cause an illness called Porcine circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD), which causes Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) (3, 4). Porcine circovirus has one of the highest evolution rates of DNA viruses and also has the capability to co-infecting hosts along with other pathogens. This can lead to more severe outbreaks and complex syndromes involving reproductive failure, enteritis and pneumonia (5).

The Porcine circovirus has the smallest genome of any autonomously replicating virus (5). The small size of the genome presents many challenges when attempting to study the pathology of the virus in livestock. The circovirus can affect a variety of hosts (mostly livestock); moreover, Porcine circovirus infection can have detrimental effects on agricultural business as it can kill off an entire swine herd, and hence cut into profits (6). Infection results in a high fatality rate in swine populations, even though a vaccine has been created to protect against PMWS. The circovirus’ small genome allows for fast evolutionary adaption, permitting the virus to quickly gain resistance to these vaccines (5, 7). This is due to the fact that one or two mutations could have a huge effect on the virus, such as making a benign circovirus pathogenic (3).

Genome Structure

The Porcine circovirus has two major serotypes, type 1 and type 2 (PCV1 and PCV2) and one emerging serotype, type 3 (PCV3) (13). PCV1 is known to be benign, while PCV2 is pathogenic (3, 4). Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a small, non-enveloped virus with a circular single-stranded DNA genome which is 1.76kb (6, 8). Since the genome of circovirus is small it also allows for more recombination events with other similar viruses. For example, it has been shown historically through phylogenetic analysis that a nanovirus and a circovirus at some point recombined, as a circovirus has some RNA segments in its genome even though it is a ssDNA virus (2). The DNA sequence similarity between the two serotypes, PCV1 and PCV2, is about 76% (9).

Cell Structure

Porcine circovirus has a diameter of around 17 nm, thus making it the smallest animal virus studied with the capability of independent replication (8). Porcine circovirus is a non-enveloped virus assembled into a single capsid.

Metabolic Processes

Viruses do not have their own metabolism, but instead take advantage of their host cells to replicate, transcribe, and translate. The PCV genome enters the host cell nucleus by inserting into daughter nuclei at the end of mitosis (10). The two proteins Rep and Rep’ are the replication initiator of Open Reading Frame (ORF) C1 transcript, which code for the capsid protein for porcine circovirus (10).

Ecology

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is highly infectious to swine. Studies determined that Porcine circovirus is a derivative of a former swine virus. The genome of the microbe and the cap (capsid) sequences of PCV2a and PCV2b viral genomes were aligned to determine any possible location of recombination in the sequence (11). Furthermore, circoviruses have been coevolving with many different vertebrate organisms for millions of years (2, 11). In fact, the current evolutionary model of the Porcine circovirus is as follows: PCV2 is a virus that has long been associated with swine, and only recently has become infectious (11).

Pathology

Evidence shows that Porcine circovirus acts as an immunosuppressive agent which can open up the host to a secondary infection (3). It can lead to the development of Porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD) which are connected to many varying swine diseases (6). The most common disease that develops, within swine, is Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS). PMWS is commonly found in swine 6-8 weeks with enlarged lymph nodes, jaundice, and extreme loss of weight (3). Some swine show symptoms of respiratory distress and interstitial pneumonia (3). PMWS has a high fatality rate with infected swine. To prevent this disease vaccines and prevention strategies for PCV2a were developed. Prevention strategies included monitoring the health of weaning swine, avoid having a high density of swine together, and control the movement of swine between batches (3). This however has caused the evolution of the virus to serotype PCV2b in swine populations, thus reducing the potential for prevention (6, 7).

Porcine circovirus is not a zoonotic agent, and therefore there is little concern for possible infection to humans (12).

Epidemiology

Porcine circovirus is a global disease. In the United States and Italy, PCV3 was isolated and identified in 2015 (13). Researchers are currently working to reduce the rate of infection of PCV3 with epidemiological analysis of the virus. Ultimately, epidemiologists hope the virus will not spread as quickly as PCV2 and will therefore avoid becoming an epidemic in swine populations around the globe. As of 2017 Italy was the only EU country with PCV3 which seemed to have similar genetic properties to the virus found in the US (13).

Current Research

Currently, researchers are trying to characterize the complete genogroup of Porcine circovirus and its associated disease which may be involved in the epidemic of swine populations in many countries. This will help establish the preventive methods like vaccine production to resist the global outbreak of Porcine circovirus pathogens (14).

There is also current research in the epidemiology of an emerging serotype PCV3, and through the use of epidemiological analysis will keep the virus from becoming a new epidemic like PCV2 (13).

References

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