CO-INFECTIONS OF CLASSICAL SWINE FEVER VIRUS, PORCINE SAPELOVIRUS AND PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS 2 IN DIARRHEIC PIGLETS: EVIDENCE FROM KARNATAKA, INDIA

Suckling and weaned piglets suffering from gastrointestinal disorders often develop diarrhea due to viral co-infections. Classical swine fever virus, porcine sapelovirus, and porcine circovirus type 2 are important pathogens that pose a threat to the swine farming industry. We analyzed 25 samples of piglet diarrhea from three different farms (A, B and C) in Karnataka for classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine sapelovirus (PSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) by RT-PCR and PCR followed by phylogenetic analysis for identifying their genotypes and sub-genotypes. Concurrent infection of PSV-PCV2 and PSV-CSFV were identified in Farm A and B, while Farm C had only PSV infection. Co-infection of these viruses resulted in varying mortality rates depending on the viral combination. The phylogenetic analysis revealed PSV1 had three distinct clusters from three different farms, Farm B CSFV genetic analysis showed 2.2 sub-genotypes, and PCV2 from Farm A showed its lineage to PCV2b type. This is the first report of PSV-PCV2 and CSFV-PSV co-infections in diarrheic piglets in Karnataka, India. Phylogenetic analysis identified distinct viral strains circulating in the region. The findings establish a correlation between co-infection patterns and mortality rates, providing valuable epidemiological insights for disease management. Additionally, the detection of CSFV from fecal samples offers a new perspective on its diagnostic approaches, highlighting the need for improved surveillance and biosecurity measures.