Phylogenetic characterization of the first ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 detected in pigs in Brazil

Abstract

Ungulate tetraparvovirus 2 (UTV2), formerly known as porcine hokovirus due to its discoveryin Hong Kong, is closely related to a Primate tetraparvovirus (human PARV-4) and Ungulatetetraparvovirus 1 (bovine hokovirus). Until now, UTV2 was detected in European, Asian andNorth American countries, but its occurrence in Latin America is still unknown. This studydescribes the first report of UTV2 in Brazil, as well as its phylogenetic characterization. Tissuesamples (lymph node, lung, liver, spleen and kidney) of 240 piglets from eight different herds(30 animals each herd) were processed for DNA extraction. UTV2 DNA was detected by PCRand the entire VP1/VP2 gene was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. All pigs from thisstudy displayed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). UTV2 was detectedin 55.3% of the samples distributed in the variety of porcine tissues investigated, as well asdetected in almost all herds, with one exception. The phylogenetic analysis demonstratedthat Brazilian UTV2 sequences were more closely related to sequences from Europe andUnited States.