Update on Senecavirus Infection in Pigs

Abstract

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Senecavirus genus within the Picornaviridae family. The virus has been silently circulating in pig herds of the USA since 1988. However, cases of senecavirus-associated vesicular disease were reported in Canada in 2007 and in the USA in 2012. Since late 2014 and early 2015, an increasing number of senecavirus outbreaks have been reported in pigs in different producing categories, with this virus being detected in Brazil, China, and Thailand. Considering the novel available data on senecavirus infection and disease, 2015 may be a divisor in the epidemiology of the virus. Among the aspects that reinforce this hypothesis are the geographical distribution of the virus, the affected pig-producing categories, clinical signs associated with the infection, and disease severity. This review presents the current knowledge regarding the senecavirus infection and disease, especially in the last two years. Senecavirus epidemiology, pathogenic potential, host immunological response, diagnosis, and prophylaxis and control measures are addressed. Perspectives are focused on the need for complete evolutionary, epidemiological and pathogenic data and the capability for an immediate diagnosis of senecavirus infection. The health risks inherent in the swine industry cannot be neglected.

Identification and genomic characterization of the emerging Senecavirus A in southeast China, 2017

“…Senecavirus A is a recently identified virus within the Picornaviridae family that can infect pigs. The epidemiology of SVA infections has changed from silent circulation in asymptomatic pigs (1988–2008), to sporadic outbreaks of vesicular disease (2008–2014), to a deadly and ongoing epidemic since 2015 (Leme et al., ). In January 2017, SVA‐associated SIVD was first reported in Fujian, and the epidemic made a comeback in the province half a year later.…”

“…A previous study classified the SVA strains into three temporal clades, and the worldwide SVAs isolated from 2001 to 2016 were artificially clustered in Clade III (Leme et al., ). Consistent with that study, all SVA isolates, excluding SV‐001, were clustered in the same clade based on analysis of the complete genome, suggesting that these isolates share a common genetic origin.…”

“…SIVD is a vesicular disease syndrome with obvious clinical signs, including vesicular lesions and coalescing erosions on the snout and coronary bands, which are indistinguishable from the infections of swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Senecavirus A‐associated SIVD was first reported in several American countries, including the United States, Brazil and Canada, and has emerged in China and Thailand in the last 2 years (Hause, Myers, Duff, & Hesse, ; Leme, Alfieri, & Alfieri, ; Leme et al., ; Saeng‐Chuto, Rodtian, Temeeyasen, Wegner, & Nilubol, ; Sun, Vannucci, Knutson, Corzo, & Marthaler, ; Wu, Zhao, Bai et al., ).…”

A new wave of Seneca Valley virus outbreaks in Brazil

“…Seneca Valley virus (SVV) is the aetiological agent of an acute, self‐limiting vesicular disease in pigs characterized by the presence of fluid‐filled and/or ruptured vesicles on the snout, lips and/or hooves (Joshi et al., ; Leme et al., ), specifically on the coronary bands and/or the interdigital space (Montiel et al., ). Seneca Valley virus‐associated vesicular disease in pigs closely resembles important viral vesicular infections, including foot‐and‐mouth disease (Leme, Alfieri, & Alfieri, ).…”

Reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR to identify the emerging vesicular virus Senecavirus A in biological samples

“…Conventional and quantitative RT‐PCR and massively parallel sequencing are the most frequently molecular assays used. RT‐qPCRs, for example, has advantages because they are fast, sensitive and specific and can be applied in different biological samples such as serum, tonsils, faeces, and oral and vesicular fluids (Leme, Alfieri, & Alfieri, ).…”