High prevalence of porcine circovirus 2, porcine parvovirus, and pathogenic leptospires in mummified swine fetuses in Southern Brazil/Alta prevalencia de parvovirus suino, circovirus suino 2 e leptospiras patogenicas em fetos suinos mumificados na regiao Sul do Brasil

Modern swine production employs a high degree of technology and is organized in various production stages, in which reproduction is one of the most significant. However, reproductive losses associated to fetal death are still high. Fetal losses, including fetal mummification, may occur at a rate below 1.5% in a sound herd. The causes of fetal death can be very diverse, and include various infectious agents. Therefore, investigating the causes of fetal losses is important in the decision-making process related to the control and prophylaxis of the herd. The goal of this study was to carry out a molecular survey, analyzing porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), and pathogenic Leptospira as potential agents related to fetal death in swine farms in Southern Brazil. We collected samples from three farms with a mummified index [greater than or equal] 2.5%. Fragments of brain, lung, kidney, liver, and heart were sampled for PCR analysis. Out of 100 samples examined, 87, 68, and 22 were positive for PCV2, PPV, and Leptospira spp., respectively. Moreover, we also identified coinfections with two and three pathogens in the same sample. Our findings contribute to the spreading of scientific knowledge related to infectious causes (PPV, PCV2, and pathogenic leptospires) of fetal losses in swine, as evidenced by the high frequencies of the investigated agents. Key words: fetal losses, leptospire, PCV2, PPV, reproductive failure. A producao moderna de suinos emprega um alto grau de tecnologia e e organizada em varias etapas de producao, nas quais a reproducao e uma das mais importantes. No entanto, as perdas reprodutivas associadas a morte fetal ainda sao altas. Perdas fetais, incluindo mumificacao, podem ocorrer em taxa abaixo de 1,5% em rebanhos sadios. As causas da morte fetal podem ser diversas, incluindo causas infecciosas. Portanto, a investigacao de causas relacionadas a ocorrencia de perdas fetais e importante no processo relacionado ao controle e profilaxia do rebanho. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um levantamento molecular, incluindo circovirus suino 2 (PCV2), parvovirus suino (PPV), e leptospiras patogenicas como potenciais agentes relacionados a morte fetal em suinos no sul do Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de tres granjas com indice de fetos mumificados [greater than or equal] 2,5%. Fragmentos de cerebro, pulmao, rim, figado e coracao foram amostrados para analise por PCR. Das 100 amostras examinadas, 87 foram positivas para PCV2, 68