Torque teno sus virus infection in suckling piglets from Brazilian pig herds

Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV) is responsible for the infection of pig herds around the world. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of natural infection by both species of TTSuV in suckling piglets from major pig-producing regions of Brazil. Faecal samples (n = 135) from 1 to 3-week-old suckling piglets from the Southern, Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil were analysed by PCR assay to detect TTSuV1 and 2. TTSuV1 and 2 DNA was identified in 65 (48.1 %) and 23 (17 %) of piglet faecal samples, respectively. Co-infection by both species of TTSuV was detected in 17 (12.6 %) samples. Detection of TTSuV1 was significantly higher than that of TTSuV2 in the three Brazilian regions together (p < 0.05). Based on age of animals, TTSuV1 infection was statistically higher than TTSuV2 in each age group (p < 0.05). For all of the age groups together, no statistical difference was detected in the number of TTSuV1 and 2 positive results (p > 0.05). These findings revealed that TTSuV infection has disseminated in pig herds from different geographic Brazilian regions, and the presence of TTSuV in suckling piglet faecal samples suggested the early infection by the virus and the potential of these animals in spreading the virus.