High Prevalence of Recombinant Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERV-A/Cs) in Minipigs: A Review on Origin and Presence

Denner, Joachim; Hj, Schuurman

doi:10.3390/v13091869

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…Nevertheless, among all minipigs analyzed in our laboratory, the Mini-LEWE pigs have less exogenous viruses and surprisingly for minipigs have no PERV-A/C, which is common in minipigs [26] (Table 5). Minipigs that we did not analyze, such as the Massachusetts General Hospital SLA-defined miniature pigs, are also characterized by a high prevalence of PERV-A/C [38,69] and the presence of PCMV [70,71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Virological and Parasitological Characterization of Mini-LEWE Minipigs Using Improved Screening Methods and an Overview of Data on Various Minipig Breeds

et al. 2021

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Minipigs play an important role in biomedical research and have also been used as donor animals in xenotransplantation. To serve as a donor in xenotransplantation, the animals must be free of potential zoonotic viruses, bacteria and parasites. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pigs and cannot be eliminated as most of the other pig viruses can. PERV-A and PERV-B infect human cells in cell culture and are integrated in all pigs, whereas PERV-C infects only pig cells and it is found in many, but not all pigs. Minipigs are known for a high prevalence of recombinant PERV-A/C viruses able to infect human cells (Denner and Schuurman, Viruses, 2021;13:1869). Here, Mini-LEWE minipigs are screened for the first time for pig viruses including PERV. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 animals were screened using PCR-based methods (PCR, RT-PCR, and real-time PCR). In comparison with our previous screening assays, numerous improvements were introduced, e.g., the usage of gene blocks as a PCR standard and foreign RNA to control reverse transcription in RT-PCR. Using these improved detection methods, Mini-LEWE pigs were found to be negative for porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHV-1, -2 and -3), porcine circoviruses (PCV1, 2, 3 and 4), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). All animals carried PERV-A, PERV-B and PERV-C in their genome. PERV-A/C was not found. In contrast to all other minipig breeds (Göttingen minipigs, Aachen minipigs, Yucatan micropig, Massachusetts General Hospital miniature pigs), Mini-LEWE minipigs have less viruses and no PERV-A/C. Parasitological screening showed that none of the Mini-LEWE minipigs harbored ecto- and gastrointestinal parasites, but at least one animal tested positive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In one case an infectious PERV-A/C isolate able to infect human 293 cells was released [25]. Interestingly, the prevalence of PERV-A/C is generally high in minipigs (for review see [26]). There is consensus that only PERV-C-free pigs should be used for xenotransplantation in order to avoid PERV-A/C recombination [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virological and Parasitological Characterization of Mini-LEWE Minipigs Using Improved Screening Methods and an Overview of Data on Various Minipig Breeds

et al. 2021

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“…PERV-C was found as integrated proviruses in the genome of all five analyzed animals ( Table 3 ). PERV-A and PERV-C can recombine in living pigs; the recombinant PERV-A/C is able to infect human cells and is characterized by high replication rates (for review, see [ 41 ]). PERV-A/C was not found in these animals with erythema multiforme ( Table 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virological Characterization of Pigs with Erythema Multiforme

et al. 2022

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Erythema multiforme in pigs is an acute, self-limiting disease characterized by red skin areas and often associated with anorexia, fever and respiratory problems. The cause of the disease remains unknown. In a recent study, animals of a commercial breeding herd in Greece were examined, and all animals were found seropositive for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). However, neither PRRSV and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) viremia nor antibodies against Aujeszky’s disease virus, African swine fever virus and classical swine fever virus were detected. Here, an extended examination of these pigs was performed on a wide range of porcine viruses using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Affected skin of five animals revealed the presence of porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus-1 (PLHV-1) in all cases, PLHV-2 in one animal and PLHV-3 in four animals. However, neither porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) nor porcine circoviruses (PCV1, PCV2, PCV3 and PCV4) were detected. In blood samples, PLHV-1 was present in two animals and PLHV-2, PCV2 and PCV3 in one individual, with PCMV, PCV1 and PCV4 in none of the animals. In one animal, four viruses were found in the blood (PLHV-1, PLHV-2, PCV2 and PCV3). A PRRSV viremia was also not detected. All animals carried porcine endogenous retrovirus C (PERV-C) in their genome, but recombinant PERV-A/C was not detected. The results suggest that porcine viruses may be involved in erythema multiforme in these animals and that further studies are needed to assess the role of these pathogens in the disease.

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“…23 However, primary pig aortic endothelial cells released virus able to infect human cells 24 and pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed a high expression of PERV when immunologically stimulated. 17 Mitogen-stimulated PBMCs from minipigs, but not from other pig breeds, released human-tropic PERV-A/C. 17,26,27 Independent of the discussion concerning the copy number, it is important to note that in all preclinical trials as well as the first clinical trials, including the trials performed in New Zealand and Argentina under regulatory oversight, no PERV transmission was observed (for review see Denner 28 ).…”

Section: The Question Is What Does the Number Of Integrated Provirusesmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does the PERV copy number tell us?

Denner

2022

Xenotransplantation

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High Prevalence of Recombinant Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses (PERV-A/Cs) in Minipigs: A Review on Origin and Presence

Cited by 17 publications

References 83 publications

Virological and Parasitological Characterization of Mini-LEWE Minipigs Using Improved Screening Methods and an Overview of Data on Various Minipig Breeds

Virological and Parasitological Characterization of Mini-LEWE Minipigs Using Improved Screening Methods and an Overview of Data on Various Minipig Breeds

Virological Characterization of Pigs with Erythema Multiforme

What does the PERV copy number tell us?

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