Typing of porcine circovirus in clinical specimens by multiplex PCR

A multiplex PCR assay was developed to detect and differentiate between the porcine circovirus (PCV) infecting persistently the PK 15 cell line (PCV type I) and the PCV associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) (PCV type II). DNA products with unique sizes characteristic of each type of PCV were obtained. Sequencing of these products demonstrated that the nucleotide sequences were type-specific. Tissue samples from a total of 42 field cases from Québec were studied, among which 41 were collected in 1997-1998 and one which had been previously collected in 1994. These 42 cases found previously to be PCV-positive by PCR were tested in the present study by a multiplex PCR assay to determine the type of PCV in each case. From these 42 field cases, 40 cases were PCV type II-positive, one case was PCV type I-positive and one case was positive for both PCV types I and II. PCV type II was identified in typical PMWS field cases, but also in field cases submitted for various clinical histories, some of which were not suggestive of PMWS. In the field case where PCV type I was detected, there was no clinical evidence nor histological lesions suggestive of PMWS. The demonstration of PCV type II in a total of 41/42 field cases in the present study suggests that PCV type II may be the main type of PCV circulating in pigs. Furthermore the detection of PCV type II in a field case dating back to 1994 indicates that this PCV type was circulating in pigs in Québec several years before the report of clinical PMWS in this province.