Torque Teno Sus Virus 1: A Potential Surrogate Pathogen to Study Pig-Transmitted Transboundary Animal Diseases

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Molecular Virology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology

Background:

• Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) pose significant risks to wild and domestic swine populations.
• Studying TADs in free-ranging wild pigs presents considerable challenges.
• A surrogate pathogen is needed to model disease dynamics and inform management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the suitability of Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) as a surrogate pathogen for molecular epidemiology in wild pigs (Sus scrofa).
• To investigate TTSuV1 prevalence, persistence, host health correlations, and genetic variability in wild pig populations.
• To conduct a molecular epidemiological case study to inform transmission dynamics of directly transmitted viruses.

Main Methods:

• Field sampling and molecular analysis of wild pigs at two study sites (Archbold's Buck Island Ranch, FL, and Savannah River Site, SC).
• Prevalence and phylogenetic analyses of Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1).
• Molecular epidemiological case study correlating host relatedness, geographic distance, and viral genetic similarity.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of TTSuV1 (40%) was observed in both study areas.
• Phylogenetic analyses indicated significant genetic variability within and between study sites.
• Case study demonstrated strong correlations between host relatedness, geographic distance, and viral genetic similarity, revealing direct pig-to-pig transmission patterns.

Conclusions:

• Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) is highly suitable for molecular epidemiological studies in wild pigs.
• TTSuV1 can effectively model transmission dynamics of directly transmitted pathogens in wild swine.
• Findings will aid in future research on TADs transmission and management in wild pig populations.