Assessment of seasonality of rotavirus PCR detection in swine from Ontario and Quebec between 2016-2020 using submissions to a diagnostic laboratory.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine if seasonality of rotavirus A, B, and C infection is present in Ontario and Quebec swine herds by investigating submissions to a diagnostic laboratory. Samples (N = 1557) within 755 case submissions from Canadian swine herds between 2016 and 2020 were tested for rotaviruses A, B, and C using a real-time polymerase-chain reaction assay and described. Data from Ontario and Quebec were additionally analyzed using boxplots, 6-week rolling averages, time-series decomposition, and negative binomial regression models. Percentage positivity of submissions for rotaviruses A, B, and C were discovered to be highest in nursery/weaner (n = 100, 94.0%, 60.0%, 80.0%) and grower/finisher (n = 13, 84.6%, 46.2%, 61.5%) pigs and lowest in gilt/sow (n = 45, 68.9%, 20.0%, 40.0%) and suckling pigs (n = 102, 67.6%, 10.8%, 38.2%), respectively. The most common combination of rotavirus at the sample level was AC (n = 252, 17%) and ABC (n = 175, 23.2%) at the submission level. Percent positivity for rotavirus A, B, and C across all Canadian provinces included in the study were 69.9%, 32.6%, and 53.1%, respectively. Descriptive analysis suggested little to no evidence of seasonal patterns, although a spike in November was seen in the monthly total submissions and monthly total positive submissions. Statistically, the overall month effect could not be identified as statistically significant (P > 0.05) for any of the evaluated submission counts. Overall, there was no evidence supporting seasonality of rotavirus within Ontario and Quebec swine herds between 2016 and 2020.