The behaviour of porcine cytomegalovirus in commercial pig herds

Abstract

A longitudinal, virological and serological study of pigs in two herds with respiratory disease showed that infection by porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) was universal in both. Virus excretion usually began when piglets were between 3 and 6 weeks of age and reached a maximum between 5 and 8 weeks; it was usually no longer detectable at 11-12 weeks. Antibody demonstrable in indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) tests was present to moderate or high titre in all piglets at 2-3 weeks. This was presumed to be maternal in origin as it declined in titre between 2-3 and 5-6 weeks. After this fall the majority of piglets showed seroconversion as a result of virus infection. One group of 12 pigs in which infection occurred earlier than usual showed a very poor antibody response, which, nevertheless, persisted through to week 27. The findings are discussed with relation to porcine atrophic rhinitis and cytomegalovirus infection in other species.