Molecular characterization of Porcine circovirus type 2 isolates from post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome-affected and non-affected pigs

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is recognized as a primary cause in post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). In this study, both PCV1 and PCV2 types were studied in pigs originating from PMWS-affected (+) and non-affected (-) herds from Brittany. PCV2 was identified by PCR in 100% of animals from PMWS(+) herds and in 76% from PMWS(-) herds, while PCV1 was not detected. The complete sequences of 38 PCV2 isolates were determined and 23 new variants were identified, displaying between 94-6 and 99(.)9% nucleotide identity with one another. Although highly related to all the PCV2 sequences available in databases, the isolates from France gathered in a distinct subcluster. Compared with the 13 PCV2 from PMWS(+) farms, the 10 PMWS(-) sequences exhibited a slightly higher variability. No viral molecular marker specific to a pathogenic state could be identified, even by including other PCV2 variants isolated from PMWS-suffering animals from other countries. We concluded that the PMWS outbreaks in Brittany are most likely not due to the emergence of a new genotype of circovirus.