Torque teno virus (TTV) detection in aborted and slaughterhouse collected foetuses

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a non-enveloped virus with circular single-stranded DNA genome belonging to the floating genus Anellovirus. TTV was discovered in humans and later identified in other species including pigs.

In pigs, two different genogroups have been described, genogroup 1 (TTV1) and genogroup 2 (TTV2). Swine TTV infection is ubiquitous and species-specifi c (1). However, its potential role on disease occurrence is yet to be defined. TTV infection has been associated with pigs affected by postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) (1,2) and linked with development of a porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS)-like condition in pigs co-infected with TTV1 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) (3). Faecaloral transmission route is considered the most common route of TTV dissemination but vertical transmission route may play an important role (4).

In the present work, a prospective study was designed to asses the prevalence of both swine TTVs in cases of abortions. Healthy foetuses collected from pregnant sows at slaughterhouse were used as age-matched controls.

Laura Martinez-Guino¹ Tuija Kekarainen¹ Jaime Maldonado² Mario Aramouni¹ Anna M. Llorens¹ Joaquim Segales¹

1. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Anima (CReSA), Bellaterra, Spain; 2. Laboratorios Hipra, S.A., 17170 Amer, Girona, Spain

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