Porcine Astrovirus 4 Detection in Lesions of Epitheliotropic Viral Infection in the Porcine Respiratory Tract.

Astroviruses infect mammals and birds resulting in either gastroenteritis, neurologic disease, or asymptomatic infection. Porcine astrovirus 4 (PoAstV4) has previously been detected in the upper respiratory tract of pigs with clinical respiratory disease; however, proof of respiratory tract infection and association of the virus with respiratory pathology have not been shown. In this retrospective study of young pigs with clinical respiratory disease of unknown etiology, PoAstV4 was detected with RNA hybridization in lesions consistent with epitheliotropic viral infection in 85 of 117 pigs. This is the first report associating an astrovirus with respiratory pathology.