Santos-Silva Sérgio, Cruz Andreia V S, Mesquita João R
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal.
Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente (ICETA), Universidade do Porto (UP), Rua D. Manuel II, Apartado 55142, Porto, 4051-401, Portugal.
Vet Res Commun. 2025 Jun 14;49(4):225. doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10794-w.
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a diverse group of RNA viruses that affect both human and animal health. Swine populations are particularly relevant in the ecology of CoVs, acting as potential intermediate hosts for zoonotic transmission. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of CoVs in farmed pigs in Portugal and Spain. A total of 400 fecal samples were collected from pigs in northern Portugal and northern Spain and screened using a broad-spectrum pan-CoV nested RT-PCR assay. Of these, 18 samples (4.5%) tested positive for CoV, and phylogenetic analyses confirmed their classification within the Alphacoronavirus genus. The detected sequences shared high nucleotide identity with bat-associated Alphacoronaviruses from Portugal, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom, emphasizing the importance of continued research on the role of bats in the transmission cycle and the zoonotic potential of Alphacoronaviruses. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance in swine populations to monitor emerging CoV strains and assess potential zoonotic risks.
冠状病毒（CoVs）是一类多样的RNA病毒，可影响人类和动物健康。猪群在冠状病毒的生态中尤为重要，可作为人畜共患病传播的潜在中间宿主。本研究旨在评估葡萄牙和西班牙养殖猪中冠状病毒的发生情况。从葡萄牙北部和西班牙北部的猪中总共采集了400份粪便样本，并使用广谱泛冠状病毒巢式RT-PCR检测法进行筛查。其中，18份样本（4.5%）冠状病毒检测呈阳性，系统发育分析证实它们属于甲型冠状病毒属。检测到的序列与来自葡萄牙、西班牙、意大利和英国的与蝙蝠相关的甲型冠状病毒具有高度的核苷酸同一性，强调了继续研究蝙蝠在传播循环中的作用以及甲型冠状病毒人畜共患病潜力的重要性。这些发现突出了对猪群进行持续监测以监测新出现的冠状病毒株并评估潜在人畜共患病风险的重要性。
