Key result
Atypical porcine pestivirus was detected in 1 of 124 artificial insemination doses from Swedish breeding boars, which otherwise exhibited a sparse RNA virome and a microbiome dominated by apathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.
Why the study?
Atypical porcine pestivirus causes congenital tremor type A-II in piglets and was recently shown to transmit via insemination, prompting characterisation of the seminal RNA microbiome and virome in breeding boars.
Cross-Sectional (n=124)
The detection of APPV in Swedish breeding boar semen suggests a generally good health status but raises the question of whether routine screening for APPV should be implemented.
Supports APPV screening of boar AI doses; leaves open prevalence and control needs in breeding programs.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to characterise the RNA microbiome, including the virome of extended semen from Swedish breeding boars, with particular focus on Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV). This neurotropic virus, associated with congenital tremor type A-II in piglets, was recently demonstrated to induce the disease through insemination with semen from infected boars. RESULTS: From 124 Artificial Insemination (AI) doses from Swedish breeding boars, APPV was detected in one dose in addition to a sparse seminal RNA virome, characterised by retroviruses, phages, and some fecal-associated contaminants. The detected seminal microbiome was large and characterized by Gram-negative bacteria from the phylum Proteobacteria, mainly consisting of apathogenic or opportunistic bacteria. The proportion of bacteria with a pathogenic potential was low, and no antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in the datasets. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results indicate a good health status among Swedish breeding boars. The detection of APPV in semen raises the question of whether routine screening for APPV in breeding boars should be instigated.
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Stenberg et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) (n=124). Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) screening was evaluated on Detection of APPV in semen doses. Atypical porcine pestivirus was detected in 1 of 124 artificial insemination doses from Swedish breeding boars, which otherwise exhibited a sparse RNA virome and a microbiome dominated by apathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.
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