Molecular characterization of porcine circovirus 2 circulating in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh of India

Abstract

PCV2 is the primary etiological agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVADs) which affect pigs worldwide. Currently, there is a worldwide genotype prevalence switch from PCV2b to PCV2d, which has led to increased virulence of the circulating virus strains leading to vaccine failures and selection pressure. In the present study, the PCV2 genotypes circulating in north eastern region (NER) of India particularly the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was characterized by isolation, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of cap gene. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the PCV2 isolates circulating in pigs of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were mostly of PCV2d genotype. Hence, it can be concluded that PCV2d genotype is the most dominating genotype in NER and priority should be given to this genotype for development of future vaccine candidate against PCV2 in India.

Keywords:

• Cap gene
• North-East India
• PCV2d genotype
• phylogenetic analysis

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute and Director of Research (Veterinary), AAU, Khanapara for providing the facilities to carry out the research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The funding for the work was provided by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India grant [BT/PR33050/ADV/90/277/2019] awarded to Sohini Dey and Nagendra Nath Barman.