Experimental Porcine Astrovirus 4-Associated Tracheitis and Bronchitis in Pigs.

Animal / preclinicalTransboundary and emerging diseases· 2026

Experimental Porcine Astrovirus 4-Associated Tracheitis and Bronchitis in Pigs.

Jazz Q Stephens, Alexandra Buckley, Rachel Derscheid … Michael C Rahe

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Molecular PathologyAnimal / preclinicalQ2IF 2.5

PoAstV4 nasal shedding detectable from 2 to 10 days after inoculation in piglets

Experimental Porcine Astrovirus 4-Associated Tracheitis and Bronchitis in Pigs.

Jazz Q Stephens … Michael C Rahe

Transboundary and emerging diseases · 2026 · Q2 in General Medicine

Background

Porcine astrovirus 4 (PoAstV4) is an emerging pathogen that has previously been associated with respiratory disease in piglets.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to inoculate naïve piglets with PoAstV4 and characterize the host-pathogen interaction and pathological lesions.

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Results

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DPI to 10 DPI

Virus was detectable in nasal swabs for this window after infection.

More results

Cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived (cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived) piglets were inoculated intratracheally and intranasally with PoAstV4 PCR-positive tissue homogenate previously screened for the presence of other primary pathogens with next-generation sequencing (next-generation sequencing).

More results

Microscopic lesions of epitheliotropic viral infection of the trachea and bronchi, including epithelial attenuation and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, were found in inoculated pigs at 5 days postinoculation and 8 days postinoculation.

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Conclusion

The presented findings confirm the respiratory epithelial tropism of PoAstV4 while also characterizing viral shedding and host immune response dynamics.