Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV-2) in Black-Backed Jackal (<i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>) in Namibia
2022
Umberto Molini | Lauren Michelle Coetzee | Leandra Van Zyl | Siegfried Khaiseb | Giovanni Cattoli | William G. Dundon | Giovanni Franzo
Members of the genus Circovirus have been identified in several host species. While initially considered host-specific, there is growing evidence of their presence in unexpected hosts. Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is no exception, having been reported in animals belonging to different orders, including carnivores. Recently, PCV-2 was detected in domestic pigs, warthogs and antelopes in Namibia. Considering the potential contact between these populations and wild carnivores, the presence of PCV-2 was investigated in 32 black-backed jackals (<i>Lupulella mesomelas</i>) shot between February and July 2021 as part of predator control operations in Namibia. Two lung lymph nodes tested positive for PCV-2 by PCR, confirming the broader-than-expected PCV-2 host tropism and the susceptibility of canids. Sequence analysis demonstrated a close association between the PCV-2s identified in the jackals and PCV-2b strains collected from South African domestic pigs. Although several hypotheses regarding the source of the jackal’s infection are proposed, further studies should be performed to properly assess how PCV-2 is acquired and maintained in the wild and its potential impact on wild and domestic species.
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