Abstract
The objective of our study was to diagnose the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and to determine the prevalence of the disease in 33 swine herds in the Czech Republic using the results of laboratory examinations of 100 pigs expressing the signs of wasting at the end of 2007. Microscopic lesions associated with the presence of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) antigen were detected in the lymph nodes from 39 of 100 diseased pigs (39%). Based on individual assessment of severity of microscopic lymphoid lesions associated with high amounts of PCV2 antigen, PMWS was confirmed in 4 out of 39 pigs originating from 3 of 33 herds (9%). The epidemiological study indicates that PCV2 infections associated with PMWS disease are only sporadically present in the Czech Republic. Subsequently used real time PCR technique confirmed the relation between PMWS status at the individual pig level and PCV2 DNA concentration. PCV2 DNA load in lymph nodes of PMWS-affected pigs were about 3 logs higher than the levels detected in the PMWS-nonaffected group (P < 0.05). Other parallel viral infections (PRRSV, PPV) were detected by real time PCR techniques in 21 out of 39 PCV2 infected pigs (54%). The results of serological examination of blood samples collected during the necropsy of 100 pigs are suggestive of great prevalence of PCV2 infections in pig herds; nevertheless serum samples collected from individual pigs at a single point in time had a low diagnostic value.
Highlights
Porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVD) have become major health concerns with significant welfare and economic consequences for pig producers and pig meat industry worldwide
In order to clarify the present situation on postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in the Czech Republic, 100 diseased pigs were investigated, of which porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection was found in 39
The finding of severe histopathological changes, together with immunohistochemical detection of high concentrations of PCV2 antigen in lymphoid tissues of 4 pigs aged 8 to 10 weeks, indicated that the natural course of PCV2 infections could be attributable to PMWS disease described by others (Ellis et al 1999; Rosell et al 1999)
Summary
Porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVD) have become major health concerns with significant welfare and economic consequences for pig producers and pig meat industry worldwide. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the agent thought to be mainly responsible for development of the post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs (Allan and Ellis 2000). PCV2 infections of pigs are associated with other clinical conditions called porcine dermatopathy and nephritis syndrome (PDNS), porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), and reproductive disorders and abortion (Rosell et al 2000; Segales et al 2004a). Diagnosis of the PMWS in individual pigs is based on the assessment of clinical, histopathological and virus-detection findings according to criteria described by Sorden (2000). Subclinical infections with PCV2 are extensively spread in pig population and individual pigs fulfilling criteria of PMWS diagnosis can be found in herds of good health and production status (Segales et al 2003). With regard to the multifactorial character of PMWS, whose clinical manifestation can be influenced by simultaneous occurrence of other pathogenic microorganisms (Pogranichniy et al 2002) and non-infectious cofactors (Krakowka et al 2001), it is important to detect PMWS in individuals and on the herd level
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
