Genetic characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) from wild boars detected in different regions of Ukraine

Abstract

Aim. Circovirus type 2 is a common swine virus in industrial farms worldwide, including Ukraine. PCV2 infection leads to an immunosuppressive condition and high mortality of animals. Methods. Due to the variety of PCV-2 strains in the world, and the difference between wildlife and farm strains, we undertook the characterization of field isolates found among wild boars in Ukraine using phylogenetic analysis. Results. We have shown that isolates from the Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhya, Cherkasy and Kharkiv regions belong to different subgroups of the PCV-2 and have different origins. In addition, a relatively high level of similarity with the isolates from Croatia and Brazil was found. At the same time, the isolates from wild boars from the Zaporizhzhya and Chernihiv regions, were found to be similar to that from pigs from industrial farms. Conclusions. A high level of genetic diversity was found among the investigated isolates of PCV-2 isolated from wild boars in Ukraine. The fact that some of the isolates of PCV-2 from wild boars characterized by high level of simillarity with isolates, from pigs of industrial farms, indicates an existing pathway for the transmission of the virus between demarcated animal populations and requires further research.