Prevalence of porcine circovirus-2 DNA-positive ovarian and uterine tissues in gilts culled due to reproductive disturbance in Thailand

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) DNA-positive ovarian and uterine tissues in gilts culled due to reproductive disturbance in Thailand. Tissues (70 ovaries and 102 uteri) and serum ( n = 102) samples from 102 gilts were included. PCV-2 DNA was detected by using polymerase chain reactions. The localisation of PCV-2 antigen was determined by immunohistochemistry, and PCV-2 antibody was evaluated by ELISA. PCV-2 DNA was detected in 30.0 % (21/70) of the ovaries and in 45.1 % (46/102) of the uteri. Age did not influence the frequency of PCV-2 DNA detection in these reproductive organs of gilts ( P > 0.05). The prevalence of PCV-2 DNA-positive uterine tissue in gilts culled due to non-reproductive problems (20.0 %) was lower than gilts culled due to abortion (85.0 %), abnormal vaginal discharge (47.5 %) and anoestrus (53.5 %) ( P < 0.05). The prevalence of PCV-2 DNA-positive uterine tissue in the gilts with high antibody titres (23.0 %) was lower than in gilts with low antibody titres (57.6 %) and seronegative gilts (64.5 %) ( P < 0.05). PCV-2 immunostaining was detected in the endometrial cells, lymphocytes and macrophages of the uteri and in oocytes and granulosa cells of the ovaries. In conclusion, the detection of PCV-2 in the reproductive organs reveals an important potential impact of this virus on the reproductive apparatus in gilts.