Porcine Circoviruses in Mainland China: A Nationwide Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Reported Positivity and Epidemiological Patterns.

Authors

Ziyao Wei, Wei Wei, Rui Shi, Lianlong Wang, Lu An, Hanyi Jiang, Ke Liu, Rui Wang

Published in

Microbial pathogenesis. Pages 108876. Oct 13, 2026. Epub Oct 13, 2026.

Abstract

Porcine circoviruses (PCVs) are important viral pathogens affecting swine health and production in China, but national epidemiological evidence remains fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the reported PCV positivity and epidemiological characteristics of PCVs in pigs in mainland China. Six English and Chinese databases were searched from inception to 3 February 2026. Eligible studies reported both the total number of tested pigs or samples and the number positive for PCVs. Random-effects meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and univariable meta-regression were performed to estimate pooled positivity and explore potential sources of heterogeneity. A total of 389 studies covering 32 provincial-level regions were included. Considerable between-study heterogeneity was observed. Reported positivity varied according to PCV type, diagnostic method, specimen type, pig category, sampling period, and co-detection pattern. Among the established PCV types, pooled positivity was 45.33% for PCV2, 22.37% for PCV3, 16.32% for PCV1, and 9.41% for PCV4. ELISA-based estimates were higher than PCR-based estimates, and fattening pigs showed the highest estimate among the major production stages. PCV2-PRRSV was the most frequently reported co-infection pattern. PCVs remain widely detected in Chinese swine populations, particularly PCV2. Standardized type-specific surveillance, separate reporting of serological and molecular outcomes, and comprehensive studies integrating viral-load, pathological, and sequence data are needed to better define the epidemiological and clinical significance of PCVs and inform evidence-based surveillance and control strategies in China's swine industry.

PMID:
42869112
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Oct 2026.

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