Regional Cross-Sectional Based Study and Associated Risk Factors of Porcine Circovirus 2 in Nigerian Pigs.

Abstract

Abstract Aim Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a swine viral pathogen of substantial economic importance in pig farming globally. However, large-scale surveillance is needed to determine its prevalence and associated risk factors in Nigerian pigs. We conducted a molecular-based surveillance and mapping of PCV2 in the southwest, Nigeria, to determine its prevalence and spatiality. Methods and results A total of 648 individual faecal samples were collected from different age groups of pigs from 67 farms in three southwest states. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to screen the samples with a specific primer pair. The viral prevalence was determined at individual animal and farm levels. In total, 145/648 (22.4%) of the samples and 49/67 farms (73.1%) tested positive for PCV2. The highest prevalence of PCV2 was observed in Oyo State (63/185, 34.1%) and in growers (66/145, 45.5%). Restricting visitors’ entrance to the farm was found to be strongly protective for PCV2 (AOR 0.122; P = 0.007; 95% CI; 0.027–0.564), while not having a quarantine protocol (AOR 4.445; P = 0.041; 95% CI; 1.067–18.5280) and reporting coccidiosis as a common disease encountered (AOR 14.340; P = 0.007; 95% CI; 2.094–98.203) on the farm were significant risk factors identified to be associated with the presence of PCV2. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of PCV2 in Nigerian swine herds than expected and presented significant spatial clustering of infection in the studied region. These findings underscore the need for a policy decision to promote PCV2 vaccination in Nigeria. The availability and use of PCV2 vaccine in the country will mitigate economic losses due to its infections.