Nasal Swab– a New Tool for the Detection of Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex in Natural Infected Pigs

The objectives of the present study were to determine whether nasal swab could be used for the detection of PRDC in naturally infected pigs. Fifteen piglets were used in this study. Serum, oral fluid, nasal swab, lung, tonsil and pulmonary lymph node were collected from each pig. Most common PRDC pathogens are porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP) were examined by nested RT-PCR and multiplex PCR. Among 15 pigs, PRRSV was detected in nasal swabs from 12 pigs, oral fluids from 11 pigs, and serum from only 3 pigs. The ability to detect PRRS virus by nasal swab could be compare with tonsil and lungs which is consider as the first choice of sample. In addition, other pathogens such as PCV2, Mycoplasma and APP could also be detected in nasal swab. As many pathogens cause PRDC in pigs could be detected in nasal swabs, therefore nasal swab could be considered as a preferable sample for the detection of PRDC in pigs. PRRS virus was consistently detected in nasal swab it could be explained by the replication of PRRS virus in lymphoid tissue in the nasal cavity then shed into nasal discharge.

Nguyen Thi Trang

FVM- Vietnam National University of Agriculture