Rotavirus excretion by village pigs in Papua New Guinea

Rotavirus excretion in naturally infected pigs with and without diarrhoea

Seven hundred and fifty faecal samples from piglets ranging from 1 to 60 days old were studied for the presence of group A rotavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). From 451 diarrhoeic pigs, 117 (25.94%) were positive for rotavirus and only 45 (15.05%) of 299 pigs without diarrhoea excreted the virus (P < 0.005). When these animals were separated into four age groups with regard to the presence or absence of diarrhoea, it was observed that the excretion of rotavirus was associated with diarrhoea in piglets, both before and after weaning.

The carriage of Streptococcus suis type 2 by pigs in Papua New Guinea

An indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to detect the presence of Streptococcus suis type 2 in nasal and pharyngeal swabs taken from pigs in Papua New Guinea. The rate of carriage for the two sites in domesticated indigenous village pigs was 0.5 and 2.5% respectively, compared to 39 and 43% for intensively reared pigs. These findings were supported by the results of a serological survey, using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, in which 87% of intensively reared pigs but only 8% of village pigs were seropositive to S. suis type 2. It is proposed that in intensive piggeries S. suis type 2 is continually cycled between pigs. In village pigs, the low population density and harsh environmental conditions prevents this cycle of infection.