Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main pathogen of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD). PCVAD is derived by excessive proliferation of PCV2 and increases mortality rates. Thus, the technique to prevent the excessive proliferation of PCV2 in host pigs was needed. The interaction between host regulators G-protein signaling 16 (RGS16) and PCV2 ORF3 which was encoding capsid protein for proliferation was previously reported. Therefore, porcine RGS16 gene considered candidate gene for viral load of PCV2 in host pigs. The aim of this study was to find new genetic variants in porcine RGS16 associated with PCV2 viral load. New two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the intron 1 region of RGS16 were identified and they were completely linked. Total 142 Yorkshire pigs were genotyped by direct sequencing. These pigs were unvaccinated against PCV2 and naturally infected with PCV2. Viremia of PCV2, antibody titer (SNc ratio), and number of leukocytes were measured using host serum and whole blood samples which were collected from each pig at 4 and 10 weeks old. Pigs with AT genotype had higher viral load between 4 and 10 weeks than other genotypes (P=0.026). Other traits were not significantly different. Result from this study suggests that the new RGS16 SNP could be helpful marker for selection about low proliferation of PCV2 in host Pigs.
