J Vet Sci.  2011 Mar;12(1):15-19. 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.1.15.

Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary pneumocystosis and concurrent infections in pigs in Jeju Island, Korea

• Kim KS
• Jung JY
• Kim JH
• Kang SC
• Hwang EK
• Park BK
• Kim DY
• Kim JH

• KMID: 1067332
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2011.12.1.15

Abstract

Epidemiological characteristics of swine pulmonary Pneumocystis (P.) carinii and concurrent infections were surveyed on Jeju Island, Korea, within a designated period in 172 pigs submitted from 54 farms to the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University. The submitted cases were evaluated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, PCR/RT-PCR, and bacteriology. P. carinii infection was confirmed in 39 (22.7%) of the 172 pigs. Histopathologically, the lungs had moderate to severe lymphohistioctyic interstitial pneumonia with variable numbers of fungal organisms within lesions. Furthermore, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) co-infection was a common phenomenon (12.8%, 20.5%, and 48.7% were positive for PRRS, PCV-2, or both, respectively, as determined by PCR/RT-PCR). Infection was much more concentrated during winter (December to March) and 53.8% of the infected pigs were 7- to 8-weeks old. In addition, three pigs showed co-infection with bacteria such as Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus suis. The results of the present study suggest that the secondary P. carinii infection is common following primary viral infection in swine in Korea. They further suggest that co-infection of P. carinii might be enhanced by the virulence of primary pathogens or might have synergistic effects in the pigs with chronic wasting diseases.

Keyword

concurrent infection; P. carinii; PCV-2; pig; PRRSV

MeSH Terms

Aging
Animals
*Circovirus/pathogenicity
Incidence
Pasteurella Infections/complications/epidemiology/veterinary
Pasteurella multocida/i
*Pneumocystis carinii/immunology/pathogenicity
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/complications/epidemiology/physiopathology/*veterinary
Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome/complications/*epidemiology
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/*epidemiology
*Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/pathogenicity
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sea
Streptococcal Infections/complications/epidemiology/veterinary
Streptococcus suis/i
Sus scrofa
Swine Diseases/epidemiology/virology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Lung of pig. (A) Diffuse lymphohistiocytic interstitial pneumonia. (B) Note the honeycomb materials (arrow) in the alveolar lumens. (C) and (D) Note the numerous round cysts (arrows) about 4-6 µm in diameter along the alveolar wall and within the alveolar lumen. A and B: H&E stain. C: PAS stain. D: Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase stain. Scale bars = 200 µm (A), 50 µm (B-D).

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  Fig. 2 Incidence of pigs with Pneumocystis carinii infection according to their ages.

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  Fig. 3 Monthly prevalence of Pneumocystis carinii infection in pigs submitted for diagnosis.

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