Validation and aplication of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) in swine sera

Abstract

Porcine circovirosis is an infectious-contagious syndrome caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) found mainly in recently weaned piglets causing dermatitis, neurological and reproductive disorders, pneumonia and encephalitis. The objectives of the present study were to validate a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique to detect PCV-2 in swine serum and to apply the validated technique in swine serum samples to detect PCV-2. After the application of two different PCRs, 100% of the surveyed animals were negative to PCV-2; furthermore, the PCR targeted to a region between ORFs 1 and 2 of the virus was found more sensitive when compared to another PCR targeted to the capsid protein gene. As a conclusion, PCR is a valid technique to detect PCV-2 in swine serum and the surveyed population was free of the virus.

Keywords

• circovirus porcino tipo 2
• PCR
• suero