Increased prevalence of torque teno viruses in porcine respiratory disease complex affected pigs

The role of swine torque teno sus viruses (TTSuVs) as co-factors in disease syndromes involving porcine circovirus strain 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory disease syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been a debatable subject. In this study, the prevalence of TTSuVs in Iowa, the leading pork producing state in the U.S., was estimated by a duplex PCR. The PCR is capable of simultaneously detecting both teno sus viruses 1 and 2 (TTSuV1 and 2). Based on an analysis of 300 random samples representing six major geographical regions of the state, the overall prevalence rates for TTSuV1 and 2 were 47.34% and 24.67% respectively while the combined prevalence rate was 52.33%. The epidemiological association of TTSuV1 and 2 with the common etiological agents of the porcine respiratory 0 disease complex (PRDC) namely porcine PRRSV, PCV2, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and swine influenza virus (SIV) was estimated in lung tissue derived from 45 pigs showing clinical signs of PRDC. Notably, 86.67% of the PRDC-suspect samples were positive for TTSuV1 in comparison to the baseline population prevalence rate of 47.34%. However, the prevalence of TTSuV2 (26.67%) was not significantly different. TTSuV1 was detected in 80.00%, 81.81%, 75.00% and 77.78% of the PRRSV, SIV, M. hyopneumoniae and PCV2 positive PRDC-suspect samples respectively. Our results indicate that TTSuV1 is strongly associated with clinical PRDC and support the hypothesis that TTSuVs might function as co-factors in PRDC. Further studies to define their possible role in the pathogenesis of swine respiratory diseases are warranted. Published by Elsevier B.V.