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Pathogens
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Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies
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Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 3912

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luis Gimenez-Lirola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Interests: swine viral diseases; emerging pathogens; diagnostics; immunopathogenesis; infectious diseases modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jeffrey J. Zimmerman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Interests: ecology of viral infections in swine; swine health and productivity; diagnostic assay development; improved surveillance methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jesús Hernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigacion en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome; PRRS virus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Swine infectious diseases present considerable challenges to global pork production. Effective management requires advancements in diagnostics, a comprehensive understanding of pathogenesis, and the development of robust control strategies. Diagnostic tools have evolved from traditional techniques to sophisticated molecular assays, enabling rapid and precise pathogen identification, including emerging and reemerging pathogens. Understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis—how pathogens invade, replicate, and evade host immune defenses—is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Control strategies, including vaccination and strict biosecurity measures, are central to disease management, though they face challenges such as antigenic variation and varying vaccine efficacy. Future research emphasizes integrating omics technologies, precision medicine, and novel antiviral agents to enhance disease control and prevention. Continuous innovation and rigorous scientific inquiry are essential to address the dynamic nature of swine pathogens and safeguard both animal health and the swine industry.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality papers concerning swine infectious diseases. There is no limitation on the type of contribution; original articles, communications, case reports, and reviews are all welcome. Your valuable input will enrich the current state of knowledge and contribute to the control of swine infectious diseases.

Dr. Luis Gimenez-Lirola
Dr. Jeffrey J. Zimmerman
Dr. Jesús Hernández
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • swine
  • infectious diseases of swine
  • swine pathogens
  • diagnostics
  • pathogenesis
  • immune response
  • control strategies
  • surveillance
  • vaccines

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 573 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of IgM, IgA, and IgG Antibody Responses Against PCV3 and PCV2 in Tissues of Aborted Fetuses from Late-Term Co-Infected Sows
by Jesús Hernández, Alexandra Henao-Díaz, Mónica Reséndiz-Sandoval, Joana Ramírez-Morán, Angel Cota-Valdez, Verónica Mata-Haro and Luis G. Giménez-Lirola
Pathogens 2025, 14(2), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020198 - 16 Feb 2025
Viewed by 778
Abstract
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a ubiquitous pathogen, and co-infections with the emerging PCV3 are increasingly reported. Both PCV2 and PCV3 have been implicated in reproductive failure, yet the diagnostic criteria for PCV3 remain under development. While fetal or neonatal antibody detection [...] Read more.
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a ubiquitous pathogen, and co-infections with the emerging PCV3 are increasingly reported. Both PCV2 and PCV3 have been implicated in reproductive failure, yet the diagnostic criteria for PCV3 remain under development. While fetal or neonatal antibody detection is a recognized indicator of transplacental infection in multiple species, PCV2 appears to be an exception due to the possible transfer of maternal antibodies. This study evaluated IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies in the heart, kidney, lung, and spleen of aborted fetuses from sows co-infected with PCV2 and PCV3. PCR analysis revealed that all aborted fetuses were positive for both PCV2 and PCV3, with PCV3 Ct values being generally lower than those of PCV2, although this difference was not statistically significant. Antibody profiling showed a higher prevalence of anti-PCV3 IgM and IgA compared to anti-PCV2 IgM and IgA, particularly in the heart, kidney, and lung, while IgG responses against both viruses were similar. These findings suggest that the detection of anti-PCV3 antibodies in fetal tissues may provide supportive evidence of PCV2 and PCV3 infection and the possible involvement of these viruses in reproductive failure; however, further studies are needed to establish causation definitively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies)
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12 pages, 4689 KiB  
Article
Seroepidemiology for Orthorubulavirus suis in Mexican Pigs by Development of an Indirect ELISA Based on a Recombinant NP Protein
by Rocío Lara-Romero, José Luis Cerriteño-Sánchez, María Azucena Castañeda-Montes, Humberto Ramírez-Mendoza and Julieta Sandra Cuevas-Romero
Pathogens 2024, 13(12), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13121135 - 22 Dec 2024
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Orthorubulavirus suis (LPMV) is the etiologic agent of blue eye disease (BED), which affects pigs of all ages, and it has been endemic in central Mexico since the 1980s. To date, no disease control program has been established. Therefore, there is a need [...] Read more.
Orthorubulavirus suis (LPMV) is the etiologic agent of blue eye disease (BED), which affects pigs of all ages, and it has been endemic in central Mexico since the 1980s. To date, no disease control program has been established. Therefore, there is a need for a serological diagnostic method with high sensitivity and specificity. In this study, the recombinant protein NP of LPMV was produced in the E. coli BL21 system and then purified using affinity chromatography. The purified protein was used to coat plates for an indirect ELISA assay (iELISA). To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test, a 2 × 2 contingency table was constructed using positive and negative control sera. The specificity and sensitivity levels were 98.1% and 98.7%, respectively. According to our findings, 45% of serum samples (378/839) were positive, with seropositivity percentages in the analyzed states ranging from 72.5% to 6%. To confirm the presence of antibodies, the indirect immunofluorescence technique was applied to iELISA-positive serum samples. In this study, antibodies against the LPMV nucleoprotein were detected, indicating that the virus or defective particles may be circulating in Mexican pigs and highlighting the risk of LPMV spreading to disease-free areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies)
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10 pages, 544 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Swine Oral Fluid Sampling Procedures for Growing Pigs in Commercial Settings
by Grzegorz Tarasiuk, Marta D. Remmenga, Kathleen C. O’Hara, Marian K. Talbert, Sarah Mielke, Marisa L. Rotolo, Pam Zaabel, Danyang Zhang and Jeffrey J. Zimmerman
Pathogens 2024, 13(12), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13121097 - 12 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 773
Abstract
Pen-based oral fluids are used extensively for surveillance and disease detection in swine, but there is sparse information on the sampling process itself. To address this shortcoming, we documented the pen-based oral fluid sampling process with the aim of optimizing the number of [...] Read more.
Pen-based oral fluids are used extensively for surveillance and disease detection in swine, but there is sparse information on the sampling process itself. To address this shortcoming, we documented the pen-based oral fluid sampling process with the aim of optimizing the number of pigs in a pen that contributed to the sample. We quantified the effects of (1) previous experience with rope sampling (training), (2) the number of ropes suspended in the pen, and (3) sampling time on pig participation and pig-rope contact. A subset of pigs was clearly marked for individual identification and their interactions with ropes video recorded. Thereafter, pig-rope contacts were counted from the recordings, with “contact” defined as an individually identified pig clearly taking the rope into its mouth. Data were analyzed using appropriate models (R version 4.4.1 R core team 2024). Training, provision of additional ropes, and extended sampling time all increased pig participation across pen sizes. However, for routine oral fluid collection in the field, we recommend training pigs prior to hanging ropes for sample collection and increasing sampling time to maximize the pigs’ contribution to the oral fluid sample. Importantly, these studies focused on pig behavior and not detection; thus, future studies should evaluate the impact of these same factors on the probability of detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies)
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16 pages, 3251 KiB  
Article
Development of a Quadruplex RT-qPCR for the Detection of Porcine Astrovirus, Porcine Sapovirus, Porcine Norovirus, and Porcine Rotavirus A
by Junxian He, Kaichuang Shi, Yuwen Shi, Yanwen Yin, Shuping Feng, Feng Long, Sujie Qu and Xingju Song
Pathogens 2024, 13(12), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13121052 - 29 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 979
Abstract
Porcine astrovirus (PoAstV), porcine sapovirus (PoSaV), porcine norovirus (PoNoV), and porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA) are newly discovered important porcine diarrhea viruses with a wide range of hosts and zoonotic potential, and their co-infections are often found in pig herds. In this study, the [...] Read more.
Porcine astrovirus (PoAstV), porcine sapovirus (PoSaV), porcine norovirus (PoNoV), and porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA) are newly discovered important porcine diarrhea viruses with a wide range of hosts and zoonotic potential, and their co-infections are often found in pig herds. In this study, the specific primers and probes were designed targeting the ORF1 gene of PoAstV, PoSaV, and PoNoV, and the VP6 gene of PoRVA. The recombinant standard plasmids were constructed, the reaction conditions (concentration of primers and probes, annealing temperature, and reaction cycle) were optimized, and the specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility were analyzed to establish a quadruplex real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assay for the detection of these four diarrheal viruses. The results demonstrated that the assay effectively tested PoAstV, PoSaV, PoNoV, and PoRVA without cross-reactivity with other swine viruses, and had limits of detection (LODs) of 138.001, 135.167, 140.732, and 132.199 (copies/reaction) for PoAstV, PoSaV, PoNoV, and PoRVA, respectively, exhibiting high specificity and sensitivity. Additionally, it displayed good reproducibility, with coefficients of variation (CVs) of 0.09–1.24% for intra-assay and 0.08–1.03% for inter-assay. The 1578 clinical fecal samples from 14 cities in Guangxi Province, China, were analyzed via the developed assay. The results indicated that the clinical samples from Guangxi Province exhibited the prevalence of PoAstV (35.93%, 567/1578), PoSaV (8.37%, 132/1578), PoNoV (2.98%, 47/1578), and PoRVA (14.32%, 226/1578), and had a notable incidence of mixed infections of 18.31% (289/1578). Simultaneously, the 1578 clinical samples were analyzed with the previously established assays, and the coincidence rates of these two approaches exceeded 99.43%. This study developed an efficient and precise diagnostic method for the detection and differentiation of PoAstV, PoSaV, PoNoV, and PoRVA, enabling the successful diagnosis of these four diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Swine Infectious Diseases: Diagnostics, Pathogenesis, and Control Strategies)
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