Singular PCV2a or PCV2b infection results in apoptosis of hepatocytes in clinically affected gnotobiotic pigs

Systemic infection with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is often clinically associated with respiratory signs, failure to thrive and diarrhea (1) Currently, PCV2 can be further subdivided into two main genotypes, PCV2a and PCV2b which under experimental conditions result in very similar macroscopic and microscopic lesions in conventional pigs (2). Viruses are often associated with apoptosis of host cells but there are conflicting results of the role of PCV2 in this pathway (3,4). The objective