Swine polioencephalomyelitis in Brazil: identification of Teschovirus A , Sapelovirus A , and Enterovirus G in a farm from Southern Brazil

Porcine encephalomyelitis can be associated with many etiologies, including viral agents, such as Porcine teschovirus (PTV), Porcine sapelovirus (PSV), and Porcine astrovirus (PoAstV). In this study, we investigated the presence of these viruses in a neurological disease outbreak in a swine farm in Southern Brazil. The piglet production farm unity had 1200 weaning piglets, and 40 piglets with neurological signs such as motor incoordination, paresis, and paralysis of hind limbs, with an evolution time of approximately 4 days. Among these, 10 piglets were submitted to postmortem examination. Gross lesions were restricted to a mild enlargement of the nerve roots and ganglia of spinal cord segments. The microscopic lesions were characterized by nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis and ganglioneuritis with evident neuronal degeneration and necrosis. Samples of the central nervous system (CNS), cerebrospinal fluid, and feces were collected and submitted to molecular analysis. PTV was identified in all samples of the CNS, while eight of the piglets were also positive for PSV, and seven were positive for Porcine enterovirus (EV-G). PoAstV was identified in a pool of feces of healthy animals used as controls. This study demonstrates the occurrence of encephalomyelitis associated with PTV on a swine farm in Southern Brazil, as well as the presence of other viruses such as PSV, EV-G, and PoAstV in the swineherd. Sequences of the fragments that were previously amplified by PCR showed a high similarity to PTV 6. Herein, we describe the first case report of severe swine polioencephalomyelitis associated with PTV in South America.