Detection of novel porcine bocaviruses in fecal samples of asymptomatic pigs in Cameroon

- Occurrence of porcine parvoviruses and bocaviruses in Cameroonian domesticated pigs is described.
- High rate of coinfection with various strains was identified.
- High genetic diversity was detected among circulating bocaviruses.

Improvements and widespread use of nucleic acid amplification and sequencing methods have led to the recognition of new virus diversity in various domestic animals, including pigs. In this study we utilized either virus species specific or broadly reactive PCR assays to describe the occurrence and genetic diversity of selected DNA viruses belonging to families Adenoviridae, Circoviridae, Anelloviridae and Parvoviridae in Cameroonian pigs. Fecal specimens were collected during spring of 2011. No adenoviruses, circoviruses and anelloviruses were detected, however, high prevalence and remarkable genetic diversity within the identified parvoviruses and, particularly, within bocaviruses was observed. PPV4 was the most prevalent virus (20%), followed by PBoV3 (18%), PBoV4 (18%), PBoV5 plus 6V/7V (16%), and PBoV1 plus PBoV2 (6%). The frequency of mixed infections with various combinations of these virus species reached 20%. Genetic analysis of the identified viruses showed that the capsid gene of PBoV1 and PBoV2 strains shared up to 91% and 94% nt sequence similarities to reference PBoV1 and PBoV2 strains, respectively. The identified PBoV3 and PBoV4 strains shared ⩽95% and ⩽98% nt identities with reference PBoV3 and PBoV4 strains, respectively, along the NS gene, whereas the PBoV5 strains shared 86% nt identities with Hungarian and 87% nt identities with Chinese PBoV5 strains along the capsid gene. In addition, a single PBoV5-like strain shared ⩽71% nt sequence identity with other PBoV5 strains. This is the first study to report evidence of the circulation of bocaviruses in Africa and contributes to our understanding of the impact of globalization on the dispersal of new and emerging viruses.