Comparison of Pneumocystis nucleic acid and antibody profiles and their associations with other respiratory pathogens in two Austrian pig herds

• Published in: PloS one 2017-09, Vol.12 (9), p.e0185387-e0185387
• Main Authors: Weissenbacher-Lang, Christiane, Nedorost, Nora, Knecht, Christian, Hennig-Pauka, Isabel, Huber, Mathias, Voglmayr, Thomas, Weissenböck, Herbert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Age; Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Antibodies; Antibodies, Fungal - analysis; Antibodies, Fungal - blood; Antigen-antibody reactions; Austria; Biology and Life Sciences; Causes of; Coinfection - immunology; Coinfection - microbiology; Coinfection - veterinary; Comparative analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease; Diseases and pests; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - blood; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Fungal - analysis; DNA, Fungal - blood; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Viral - analysis; DNA, Viral - blood; DNA, Viral - genetics; Epidemiology; Farms; Female; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Haemophilus Infections - immunology; Haemophilus Infections - microbiology; Haemophilus Infections - veterinary; Haemophilus parasuis - genetics; Haemophilus parasuis - isolation & purification; Hogs; Immunology; Infections; Influenza; Livestock; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nucleic acids; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - immunology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - microbiology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - veterinary; Pathogens; Pathology; Physiological aspects; Pneumocystis carinii - genetics; Pneumocystis carinii - immunology; Pneumocystis carinii - pathogenicity; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia; Pneumonia; Pneumonia of Swine, Mycoplasmal - immunology; Pneumonia of Swine, Mycoplasmal - microbiology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - immunology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - microbiology; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - veterinary; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - immunology; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - microbiology; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - virology; Public health; Research and Analysis Methods; Respiratory diseases; Suckling behavior; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases - immunology; Swine Diseases - microbiology; Swine flu; Swine influenza; Veterinary medicine; Virulence (Microbiology); Viruses
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185387

Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. suis (PCS) nucleic acid and antibody profiles on two Austrian-farrow-to-finish farms were investigated. Furthermore, associations with other respiratory pathogens were evaluated. Respiratory specimen and sera from pigs of five age classes between the 1st week and the 3rd month of life as well as samples from sows were analyzed. On Farm A, PCS infection occurred early in life. The suckling piglets were already infected in the 1st week of life and the pigs remained positive until the 3rd month of life. On Farm B, pigs were infected later, between 3 and 4 months of age. The maximum PCS nucleic acid load on Farm A was 8.3 log10 genome copies/mL BALF, whereas on Farm B the PCS burden was significantly lower, with 4.0 log10 genome copies/mL BALF. Anti-PCS antibodies were detected in sows, as maternal antibodies in suckling piglets and as an immunological reaction to infection. On both farms, PCS infection was accompanied by several co-infections. On Farm A, there were concurrent infections with PRRSV, a virulent strain of Haemophilus parasuis, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. On Farm B, PCS was accompanied by infections with swine influenza virus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and a non-virulent strain of Haemophilus parasuis. The results clearly show that the PCS profiles can vary between farms. Younger pigs may be more susceptible as they had higher PCS burdens. It is possible that PCS may contribute to a respiratory disease in pigs and further investigation of its potential role is warranted.