Background: Diarrhea in pigs is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a significant public health problem for both developing and developed countries. The picobirnavirus (PBV) has been identified as an emerging pathogen associated with enteric and respiratory infections in various mammalian and avian species. PBV is frequently detected in non-diarrheic healthy hosts and prolonged shedding has been observed in pigs. Piggery is one of the most important enterprises in the North East, in general and in Assam, in particular. 
 
Methods: For the study, sites with high pig populations and incidences of piggery diarrhea were considered in 11 districts of the state of Assam. Samples were collected from different age groups (pre-weaned and weaned) at different seasons and processed for the detection of PBV. 
 
Result: Out of 148 faecal samples tested, only 4 (2.70%) samples were found positive in PAGE, while 6 (4.05%) samples were positive in RT-PCR. All the positive PBV samples exhibited the presence of two discrete equimolar bands, typical of PBV, in RNA-PAGE. This indicated the presence of genogroup II in the pig population of Assam. Age-wise, out of 4 positive samples in RNA-PAGE, 3 were from piglets of the pre-weaned age group (0-4 months) and 1 from piglets of the post-weaned age group (4-8 months). All samples were found to be positive in samples collected during the pre-monsoon season. Molecular characterization of PBV was performed by sequencing the RdRp gene, which showed 82-100% sequence similarity with other PBVs reported from various parts of the world. Overall, the detection and molecular characterization of picobirnavirus in piglets from Assam contributes valuable insights into its epidemiology, age- and season-associated occurrence and potential implications for swine health management. To the authors&rsquo; knowledge, this is the first molecular confirmation of picobirnavirus infection among pigs from Assam, India, specifically with genotype group II viruses. 
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Detection and Molecular Characterization of Picobirnavirus from Pigs of Assam

Background: Picobirnavirus (PBV) is an enteric virus with potential for interspecies transmission, affecting various animal species and possibly humans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and molecular characterization of PBV in faecal samples from various animal species in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic samples from calves (cattle and buffalo), goats, pigs, dogs and poultry were collected for analysis. 
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Methods: A total of 150 faecal samples, including diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic samples, were collected from calves (cattle and buffalo), goats, pigs, dogs and poultry. Faecal suspensions were prepared and RNA extraction was performed. Both RNA-PAGE (Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and PCR techniques were employed to detect PBV, with PCR also used for Rotavirus detection. Various primer sets targeting the RdRp gene of segment 2 were utilized for PBV detection, while specific primers were applied for Rotavirus detection. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were conducted on selected samples to characterize viral genetic similarity. 
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Result: Among the 150 faecal samples, 4.0% (6/150) were positive for PBV by RNA-PAGE, with three buffalo and three dog samples displaying a three-band pattern. RT-PCR using different primer sets revealed a 7.33% (11/150) prevalence of PBV, with buffalo and goats showing the highest rates. Co-infection of PBV and Rotavirus was observed in some samples, suggesting possible interactions between these viruses. Nucleotide identities of the goat isolate S14 (GenBank OP866965) with other PBV sequences in GenBank ranged from 93.40% to 95.73%. 
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Detection and Molecular Characterization of Picobirnavirus from Pigs of Assam

Detection and Molecular Analysis of Picobirnavirus and Rotavirus from Animal Faecal Samples