Co-infection of porcine astrovirus and other porcine viruses in diarrheic pigs in Haryana, India

Abstract In this study, 306 rectal swabs from diarrheal pigs of various ages (0–3 weeks, 3–6 weeks, and > 6 weeks) were collected from 54 piggery units in different climatic zones in Haryana, India. These samples were tested for the presence of porcine astrovirus (PAstV), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2), porcine rotavirus A (PRV-A), and classical swine fever virus (CSFv) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the 306 samples tested, 153 (50%), 108 (35.3%), 32 (10.6%), and 3 (0.9%) were detected positive for PAstV, PCV-2, PRV-A, and CSFv, respectively. Mixed infections were found in 77 samples, whereas 135 had only one virus, and 70 and 7 samples had two and more than 2 viruses, respectively. PAstV was more prevalent (55.31%) in pigs aged 3–6 weeks. PCV-2 was more predominant (36.53%) in pigs aged 0–3 weeks, whereas PRV-A was more common in pigs aged 3–6 weeks (11.3%). CSFv was observed in the age group of 0–3 weeks (1.92%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the circulation of lineage − 2 and − 4 of PAstV in this region. Thus, it can be concluded that the one or more than one virus is circulating in piggery units in Haryana, India.