Assessment and quantification of post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome severity at farm level

Post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) causes major economic losses for the English pig industry and severity of clinical signs and economic impact vary considerably between affected farms. We present here a novel approach to quantify severity of PMWS based on morbidity and mortality data and presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). In 2008-2009, 147 pig farms across England, non-vaccinating for PCV2, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Factor analysis was used to generate variables representing biologically meaningful aspects of variation among qualitative and quantitative morbidity variables. Together with other known variables linked to PMWS, the resulting factors were included in a principal component analysis (PCA) to derive an algorithm for PMWS severity. Factor analysis resulted in two factors: Morbidity Factor 1 (MF1) representing mainly weaner and grower morbidity, and Morbidity Factor 2 (MF2) which mainly reflects variation in finisher morbidity. This indicates that farms either had high morbidity mainly in weaners/growers or mainly in finishers. Subsequent PCA resulted in the extraction of one component representing variation in MF1, post-weaning mortality and percentage of PCV2 PCR positive animals. Component scores were normalised to a value range from 0 to 10 and farms classified into: non or slightly affected farms with a score <4, moderately affected farms with scores 4-6.5 and highly affected farms with a score >6.5. The identified farm level PMWS severities will be used to identify risk factors related to these, to assess the efficacy of PCV2 vaccination and investigating the economic impact of potential control measures.     

Risk factors for porcine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in 149 French farrow-to-finish herds

A cross-sectional study involving 149 farms was carried out in France in 2000 and 2001 to assess the risk factors for post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The farms were divided into three groups according to their current or past PMWS status: CASES (current and typical PMWS), CONTROLS#1 (PMWS-free farms), and CONTROLS#2 (farms which have recovered from PMWS). Two different comparisons were tested: CASES versus CONTROLS#1 and CASES versus CONTROLS#2. In the first comparison, the odds of PMWS were increased when fattening pigs tested positive for parvovirus (PPv) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (OR=4.4 and 6.5, respectively), when separate vaccines for parvovirus and Erysipela for the gilts versus associated vaccines were used (OR=2.5), and when on-farm semen collection was used versus all the semen purchased from an insemination centre (OR=4.6). Large pens in weaning facilities increased the odds of PMWS (OR=4.1); whereas long empty periods in weaning and farrowing facilities versus shorter (OR=0.2), regular treatment against external parasites (OR=0.1), and housing the sows in collective pens during pregnancy versus individual pens (OR=0.3) all decreased the odds of PMWS. The same kinds of risk factors were found with the second comparison with, in addition, a common pit for several adjacent fattening rooms versus separate pits (OR=6.7) and a high level of cross-fostering (OR=5.1). On the other hand, when farms had a self-replacement scheme for the gilts (OR=0.1), and when vaccination of the sows against E. coli was in place (OR=0.2), the odds of PMWS were decreased.     

Factors related to the incidence of clinical encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection on Belgian pig farms

We set up a matched case-control study of potential risk factors for clinical encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) in 58 pig farms in West Flanders (Belgium). In total, 29 farms experienced a clinical outbreak of EMCV confirmed by EMC virus isolation. Mortality was seen only among suckling piglets (18 case farms), in piglets and other age-groups (4 case farms), or only among fattening pigs (7 case farms). Five farms had reproductive problems among the sows. Control farms were matched geographically on farm size and farm type and were selected on the absence of clinical signs. A questionnaire on potential risk factors for EMCV was developed to collect data at both case and control farms. The exploration of the data used clusters of factors associated with clinical EMCV infection: (a) rodents, (b) general farm set up and (c) general hygiene. The multivariable relationships between clinical appearance of EMCV and potential risk factors were tested with conditional logistic regression. The final model on all farms contained presence of mice (OR=8.3) as a risk factor for clinical EMCV infection while the flow of manure up through the slatted floor (OR=0.11) and movement of manure between manure pits in the pig stable (OR=0.14) were protective.     

Noninfectious factors associated with pneumonia and pleuritis in slaughtered pigs from 143 farrow-to-finish pig farms

A cross-sectional study involving 143 farrow-to-finish herds was carried out to identify herd-level noninfectious factors associated with pneumonia and pleuritis in slaughter pigs. Data related to herd characteristics, biosecurity, management and housing conditions were collected by questionnaire during a farm visit. Climatic conditions were measured over 20 h in the post-weaning and finishing rooms where the slaughter pigs were kept. After these on-farm investigations, the finishing pigs were examined at slaughter for lung lesions. A sample of 30 randomly selected pigs per herd was scored for pneumonia and pleuritis. Herds were grouped into three categories according to their pneumonia median score (class 1: ≤ 0.5; class 2: 0.53.75). For pleuritis, a herd was deemed affected if at least one pig had a high pleuritis score (≥ 3). A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with pneumonia classes 2 and 3. A logistic regression for binary outcome was used to identify risk factors for severe pleuritis. An interval of less than four weeks between successive batches (OR=4.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.5-13.6, p<0.01), large finishing room size (OR=4.3, 95% CI: 1.6-11.6, p<0.01) and high mean CO(2) concentration in the finishing room (OR=4.2, 95%CI: 1.6-11.3, p<0.01), significantly increased the odds for a herd to be in class 2 for pneumonia. The same risk factors were found for class 3 and, in addition, a direct fresh air inlet from outside or from the corridor in the post-weaning room vs an appropriate ceiling above the pigs (OR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.4-18.8, p=0.01). The risk for a herd to have at least one pig with a high pleuritis score was increased when the farrowing facilities were not disinsected (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-5.8, p=0.01), when tail docking was performed later than 1.5 days after birth (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.2-5.7, p=0.01) and if the piglets were castrated when more than 14 days old (OR=2.7, 95%CI: 1.1-6.8, p=0.03). A temperature range of less than 5°C for the ventilation control rate in the farrowing room (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-5.9, p=0.01), a mean temperature in the finishing room below 23°C (OR=3.0, 95% CI: 1.3-6.8, p<0.01) and large herd size (OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.4-6.9, p<0.01) were also associated with increased risk of pleuritis. The factors affecting pneumonia and pleuritis seemed to be different. All rearing steps from farrowing to finishing must be taken into account in any health programme aimed at controlling pneumonia and pleuritis and lung health may be improved through several pathways, i.e. correcting managerial and hygienic factors, implementing an appropriate and well-functioning ventilation in order to offer favorable climatic conditions.     

The presence of co-infections in pigs with clinical signs of PMWS in The Netherlands: a case-control study

In this study, 60 pigs with clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) from 20 different pig herds and 180 control pigs (without clinical signs of PMWS) were examined to get more insights into the frequencies of porcine circovirus 2 infections and the presence of co-infections in pigs with and without clinical signs of PMWS in the Netherlands. Porcine circovirus type 2 was detected in 100% of the pigs with clinical signs of PMWS by virus isolation and/or PCR and in 50% of the pigs from PMWS-free herds. There was an association between the levels of infectious PCV2 and/or PCV2 DNA load and the severity of clinical signs as described for PMWS. A high variation in PCV2 antibody titres was found in the clinically affected pigs, and 27% of these pigs did not mount PCV2 antibody titres higher than 1:200. A concurrent infection of PCV2 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was found in at least 83% of the pigs with clinical signs of PMWS and in 35% of the pigs from PMWS-free herds. Co-infections of European- and American-type PRRSV were detected only in PMWS herds and in one control herd with a history of PMWS clinical signs.     

Risk factors for clinical signs of PMWS and PDNS in pigs in The Netherlands: a case-control study

Potential risk factors for clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) in pigs in the Netherlands were investigated in a matched case-control study using a questionnaire (personal interview). Eighty-two pig farmers were questioned about management, hygiene, husbandry systems, disease history, and preventive health care. In this study, 30 pig herds with (cases) and 30 pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PMWS were compared. For PDNS, 11 pig herds with (cases) and II pig herds without (controls) characteristic clinical signs of PDNS were compared. Univariate analysis (P < 0.10) showed that the following occurred relatively more often in the PMWS case herds than in the control herds: 1) clinical signs of PDNS, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), porcine parvovirus (PPV) infections, meningitis, coccidiosis, and pre-weaning diarrhoea observed by the farmer; 2) vaccination against PRRS and mycoplasma; 3) non-optimal climatic conditions in the nursery rooms, a large variation in weaning age, a high occurrence of cross-fostering of piglets, a large number of sows with lactation problems, poor colostrum intake by piglets; and 4) (historical) use of breeding stock (including semen for artificial insemination) of Anglo-Saxon origin. In the final multivariate statistical model, one variable remained significantly associated with PMWS case herds, namely, the presence of clinical signs of PRRS (and/or the associated use of vaccination against PRRS). It should be noted that in almost all cases animals were vaccinated against PRRS because of clinical signs of PRRS that appeared a few months after the first occurrence of clinical signs of PMWS. This excludes PRRS vaccination as a primary factor in causing PMWS. Analysis of the PDNS case-control data showed comparable results with those of the PMWS study. In the final statistical model, the presence of clinical signs of PRRS (and/or the associated use of vaccination against PRRS) was significantly associated with PDNS case herds.     

Genotypic shift of porcine circovirus type 2 from PCV-2a to PCV-2b in Spain from 1985 to 2008

Changes in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) genotypes were evaluated before, during and after outbreaks of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in (1) a retrospective study using pig sera collected in Spain from 1985 to 2008 and (2) a longitudinal study using pig sera collected from two farms in Spain over periods of 7 and 14 years. In both studies, there was a rapid genotypic shift from PCV-2a to PCV-2b that was related to the peak of PMWS epizootics in Spain and the appearance of PMWS on the two farms studied longitudinally.     

Performance of fattening pigs in a farm infected with both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and porcine circovirus type 2 following sow and piglet vaccination with an attenuated PRRS vaccine

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether, on farms with both post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), the PRRS vaccination of sows and their fattening pigs protects against these syndromes. In a farrow-to-finish pig farm with a history of PRRS and PMWS, 200 gilts and sows were allocated to one of two groups of equal size. The first group (C-sow group) was used as untreated controls, while the animals of the second group (V-sow group) were vaccinated with live Porcilis PRRS vaccine. At the next weaning, all piglets of half the sows of the C sow group were vaccinated once at 35 days of age with the vaccine (CV group), while the offspring of the other half of the unvaccinated sows were left unvaccinated (CC group). Similarly, the offspring of half the sows of the V sow group were vaccinated (VV group), while those of the other half of the vaccinated sows were left unvaccinated (VC group). No significant differences in morbidity were observed between the groups during the nursery and finishing phases, while morbidity in the growers was significantly reduced in the CV- and VV-groups (P < 0.05). Growers' mortality was significantly reduced after piglet vaccination when compared with unvaccinated pigs of unvaccinated dams (P < 0.05). Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved in vaccinated piglets compared with those in the unvaccinated groups (P < 0.05).     

Effect of porcine parvovirus vaccination on the development of PMWS in segregated early weaned pigs coinfected with type 2 porcine circovirus and porcine parvovirus

The objectives of this study were to determine if coinfection of segregated early weaned (SEW) pigs with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) induces an increase in the incidence of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) compared to singular PCV2 infection, and to determine if vaccination against PPV protects pigs against PMWS associated with PCV2/PPV coinfection in SEW pigs. Seventy, 3-week-old, SEW pigs were randomly assigned to one of the five groups. Pigs in group 1 (n = 14) served as the negative controls, group 2 pigs (n = 14) were inoculated with PCV2, group 3 pigs (n = 12) were inoculated with PPV, groups 4 (n = 16) and 5 (n = 14) pigs were inoculated with both PCV2 and PPV. Pigs in groups 1-3 and 5 were vaccinated with two doses of a killed parvovirus-leptospira-erysipelothrix (PLE) vaccine prior to inoculation. The PCV2/PPV-coinfected pigs (groups 4 and 5) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher and more persistent fevers than the singular PCV2-infected pigs. One pig in each of the coinfected groups developed clinical disease (fever, respiratory disease, jaundice, weight loss) consistent with PMWS. Lymphoid depletion was significantly (P < 0.05) more severe in the dually-infected pigs at 42 days post-inoculation (DPI). Vaccinated, coinfected pigs (group 5) remained viremic significantly (P < 0.05) longer and had higher copy numbers of genomic PCV2 DNA in sera at 28, 35, and 42 DPI compared to the unvaccinated coinfected pigs (group 4). PPV-viremia was detected only in the unvaccinated group 4 pigs. PLE-vaccination prevented PPV-viremia but did not prevent clinical PMWS or reduce the severity of lymphoid depletion in PCV2/PPV-coinfected pigs. Evidence of increased incidence of clinical PMWS due to vaccination was not observed in this model.     

Effect of the Pietrain breed used as terminal boar on Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in the offspring in four PMWS-affected farms

The aim of this study was to determine the potential risk factors for PMWS at the individual pig level and assess the effect of the Pietrain paternal genetic background of the animals in a cohort study. The survey was set up in four PMWS-affected farms with 2 repetitions (batches) per farm. A representative sample of 60 pigs per batch, stratified according to the paternal genetic background (Pietrain: yes vs. no), was randomly selected after farrowing. The representative cohort was divided into 8 batches and the pigs were individually monitored from birth to slaughter. Survival analysis was used to determine the factors related to the time to PMWS. The litter-cluster effect was taken into account using the marginal Cox model (robust estimation of the covariance matrix) and the gamma shared frailty model which were compared.No protective effect of the Pietrain breed on the time to PMWS and the proportion of affected pigs in the offspring was found in this study. Piglets showing low circovirus type 2 (PCV2) titres at 7 weeks-old with no subsequent seroconversion and piglets from PCV2 negative sows were most likely to be affected by PMWS (HR=7.0 and 2.8, respectively). Active infection of the pregnant dams with parvovirus was related to an increased risk of PMWS in the offspring (HR=2.3). Neck injuries due to poorly performed injections in the dams were associated with an increased risk of PMWS with the marginal model (HR=2.1). Oxytocin injection (dams) during farrowing was protective against PMWS in the offspring (HR=0.6).     

The clinical expression and emergence of porcine circovirus 2

Since its discovery and characterization in western Canada in 1995, the distribution of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) has grown and the syndrome is undoubtedly recognized worldwide. More recently, there is a heightened interest in several potentially related conditions including porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP), congenital tremors (CT-AII), perinatal myocarditis and reproductive failure. Although the causality of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has recently been proven [Vet. Pathol. 37 (2000) 254; J. Comp. Pathol. 122 (2000) 9; J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 13 (2001) 185], PCV2 is present in both diseased and healthy pig populations. Furthermore, recent serologic studies have shown that there are no significant differences in PCV2 specific IgG titres between PMWS clinical and non-clinical herds (Harding et al., in press). Clearly, the transmission, epidemiology, and factors triggering clinical expression are poorly understood. With these uncertainties in mind, the objective of this paper is to review the clinical expression and emergence of PMWS and the potentially associated disease syndromes including PDNS.     

Epidemiological investigations in regard to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in Quebec, Canada. Part 2: prevalence and risk factors in breeding sites

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major threat for swine industry and understanding factors involved in its epidemiology is undoubtedly essential for disease control. As a part of a larger project, a cross-sectional study was performed on breeding sites in a moderate density area of swine production in Quebec to estimate the prevalence of PRRSV infected sites and to evaluate if characteristics of sites and biosecurity practices, either as specific measures or as a global score, were associated with PRRSV status. A questionnaire and diagnostic procedures were performed on 54 breeding sites between September 2006 and August 2008. A biosecurity score that had been previously computed using two-step clustering procedure was used, classifying breeding sites into two biosecurity patterns (high vs. low) according to 21 specific biosecurity measures. The apparent prevalence of PRRSV infected sites was 74.0% (95% CI, 60.3-85.0). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models with robust standard errors adjusting for potential clustering of sites due to same ownership were computed. In a first multivariable model evaluating characteristics of sites and specific biosecurity variables, four main effects were significantly associated (P<0.05) with PRRSV positive status: large pig inventory (OR: 10.7), proximity to closest pig site (OR: 7.3), absence of shower (OR: 8.7) and free access to the main entrance of the site by the rendering truck (OR: 7.0). In a second multivariable model including a global biosecurity score as a surrogate for a specific pattern of biosecurity measures, this score was not retained in the final model. The adjusted population attributable fractions were 16% for the proximity to closest pig site variable, 27% for the absence of shower variable, and 10% for the free access to main entrance of the site by the rendering truck. These two latter biosecurity measures, manageable directly on the site, should be prioritized and be part of any intervention strategy designed for PRRSV control.     

The detection of porcine circovirus in the Australian pig herd

OBJECTIVE: To determine if porcine circovirus (PCV) type 1 (PCV1) or type 2 (PCV2) is present in the Australian pig herd, to conduct preliminary genetic characterisation of any viruses detected, and to determine if there is any obvious virological reason why post-weaning multisystemic wasting disease (PMWS), associated with PCV infection in other countries, has not been detected in Australia. DESIGN: Serum samples were collected from 14 randomly selected pig farms in Western Australia and used for detection of PCV antibody. Additional samples from one farm were obtained at 2-week intervals from pigs between 2 and 12 weeks of age to detect any age-associated variations in prevalence of infection. Veterinary practitioners from four Australian states submitted tissues of dead or unthrifty weaned pigs, and these were examined for evidence of PCV1 and PCV2 infection. PROCEDURE: Sera were tested for antibody to PCV using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Tissues were tested for PCV1 and PCV2 genomic material using a multiplex PCR. RESULTS: PCV antibody was detected in approximately 30% of Western Australian pigs tested. PCV1 DNA was detected in tissue samples from Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales and PCV2 DNA was detected in tissue samples from Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Sequence analysis of the PCR products indicated the PCV1 and PCV2 present in Australia were very similar to strains in other countries where PMWS is endemic. CONCLUSION: Both PCV1 and PCV2 are present in Australia and the viruses present appear similar to those in countries with PMWS. The absence of PCV2-associated PMWS in Australia may be due to absence of essential secondary factors required for PCV2 to produce PMWS.     

Association of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) with lesions of hepatitis in pigs

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA and antibodies in postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome-affected (n=114) and non-affected (n=46) pigs and the possible association with hepatitis lesions. Forty-four pigs were RT-PCR positive (28.2%); 25 of them were PMWS cases, while 19 were non-PMWS pigs. In both groups, HEV RT-PCR results were associated with hepatitis (OR=5.61 for PMWS-affected pigs and OR=5.17 for non-PMWS affected pigs; p=0.01). No interaction was detected in a logistic regression between PMWS occurrence and HEV infection for the development of hepatitis lesions. Seropositivity to HEV was more likely to occur in pigs with hepatitis (51.9%) compared to pigs without hepatitis (36.1%; p=0.03). Significant differences in optical densities were notices comparing the lesional stage of pigs (p=0.009). While pigs with slight or moderate hepatitis were seropositive, pigs with more severe lesions were seronegative to HEV. These results indicate that swine HEV infection can be a significant contributor to the development of moderate hepatitis in pigs regardless of the PMWS status.     

Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) clinical expression under field conditions is modulated by the pig genetic background

Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is a worldwide distributed disease of multifactorial origin and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been identified as its essential infectious aetiology. Pig genetic background has been pointed to influence disease expression. In the present study, three different boar lines, namely A (100% Pietrain), B (50% Large White × 50% Pietrain) and C (25% Large White × 75% Duroc), were used to inseminate sows from the same genetic line (37.5% Large White × 37.5% Duroc × 25% Landrace) located on two PMWS-affected farms (farm-1 and farm-2). The PMWS clinical expression of their offspring was studied from weaning to slaughter, evaluating three parameters: total post-weaning mortality (PWM), PWM associated to PMWS (PMWS-PWM) and body weight (BW) evolution. The effect of other variables potentially related with PMWS, including sow and piglet PCV2 exposure, sow parity, piglet gender and piglet BW at weaning, were also considered in the study design. Overall, a total of 6.5% PWM and 4.3% PMWS-PWM occurred in the monitored farms. Pigs from boar line C showed the highest PWM (16.3%) and PMWS-PWM (12.4%), and the lowest BW; pigs from boar line A showed the lowest PWM (1.8%) and the highest BW. Furthermore, PWM was also higher in piglets from farm-2 and from multiparous sows. In farm-2, PMWS-PWM was higher in piglets from multiparous sows. Finally, BW was influenced by interactions between genetics and both farm and pig age, and was lower in piglets from farm-2. This study represents a consistent observation of the genetic background effect on PMWS clinical expression under field conditions.     

PCV2感染对仔猪NO-NOS系统的动态影响

将19头PCV2和PRRSV血清抗体阴性的普通断奶仔猪分为对照组(4头)和攻毒组(15头),攻毒组每头仔猪滴鼻接种PCV2病毒悬液4mL(5×105 TCID50/mL)并用KLH刺激,分别在攻毒后14、21、35d各扑杀5头仔猪采集血清和脾脏、淋巴结、胸腺(对照组4头在攻毒当天扑杀)。检测各种组织中NO、TNOS和iNOS的含量。结果显示,攻毒猪各组织中NO含量均在攻毒后14d显著升高(P<0.05),然后缓慢下降;血清和3种免疫器官中NOS(包括TNOS和iNOS)活性的变化趋势比较一致,均表现出先升高然后再逐渐降低的特点。此外,iNOS活性变化与其相应的组织中NO含量呈显著正相关(P<0.01)。结果表明,PCV2在感染早期(1～14d)可激活仔猪多种组织中NO-NOS系统,中后期逐渐恢复,这种变化与PCV2所致的组织损伤密切相关,因此,NO-NOS系统可能是PCV2相关疾病发生发展的重要信号。     

Spatial and temporal patterns of pig herds diagnosed with Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) during the first two years of its occurrence in Denmark

The clinical syndrome Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in pigs has emerged globally during the last decade. In October 2001, the first pig herd diagnosed with PMWS was reported in Denmark, and since then the number of herds diagnosed with PMWS has increased markedly. The etiology of PMWS is not well understood, but increased knowledge of the causal factors is prerequisite for applying preventive interventions. In this study we described the temporal (time of diagnosis), spatial (location of herds) and spatio-temporal pattern of Danish pig herds diagnosed with PMWS during the first two years after the first herd was diagnosed, and we tested for spatial and spatio-temporal clustering using scan statistics. The study population consisted of pig herds that during the study period (October 2001-September 2003) performed diagnostic submissions to the two major veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Denmark (6724 herds). Of these, 277 herds were diagnosed with PMWS. Two statistically significant spatial clusters of herds diagnosed with PMWS were identified. These clusters included 11% and 8% of the study herds, respectively. Within these two clusters the relative risk for a herd to be diagnosed with PMWS was twice as high as expected. One statistically significant spatio-temporal cluster was identified between February and May 2002. We discuss different hypotheses that could explain why pig herds diagnosed with PMWS were clustered both spatially and spatio-temporally, and conclude that the results support the hypothesis that PMWS is caused by introduction of a new, unidentified, pathogen into the Danish pig production.     

Porcine circovirus 2 replication in colostrum-deprived piglets following experimental infection and immune stimulation using a modified live vaccine against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection is now recognized as the major factor in the development of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Although Koch's postulates have been fulfilled for PCV2 and PMWS, the severe clinical expression of the disease observed in field cases has been difficult to reproduce experimentally. Some studies have demonstrated that immune stimulation associated with the use of some commercially available swine vaccines may trigger progression of PCV2 infection to disease and lesions characteristic of PMWS. Here we describe the effects on PCV2 infection in an experimental model following the use of a commercially available modified live vaccine to porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV). Although none of the piglets infected with PCV2 developed clinical PMWS, the severity of microscopical lesions and the PCV2 antigen load associated with these lesions were higher in the PRRSV-vaccinated piglets compared with those detected in the PCV2 only infected animals.     

Experimental reproduction of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs in Sweden and Denmark with a Swedish isolate of porcine circovirus type 2

An experimental model using 3-day-old snatch-farrowed colostrum-deprived piglets co-infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) is at present one of the best methods to study factors affecting development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). A Swedish isolate of PCV2 (S-PCV2) retrieved in 1993 from a healthy pig has been used in this model to reproduce PMWS in pigs from Northern Ireland. This virus has been present in the Swedish pig population for at least a decade without causing any known PMWS disease problems, despite its potential pathogenicity. The reasons for this are unknown, but could be related to genetics, absence of triggers for PCV2 upregulation (infectious agent and/or management forms) within Swedish pig husbandry. In order to confirm the pathogenicity of S-PCV2, Swedish and Danish pigs were experimentally infected with this isolate according to the established model. Swedish pigs were also infected with a reference isolate of PCV2 (PCV2-1010) to compare the severity of disease caused by the two isolates in Swedish pigs. Both Danish and Swedish pigs developed PMWS after the experimental infection with S-PCV2. Antibodies to PCV2 developed later and reached lower levels in serum from pigs infected with S-PCV2 than in pigs inoculated with PCV2-1010. In general, pigs infected with S-PCV2 showed more severe clinical signs of disease than pigs infected with PCV2-1010, but pigs from all PCV2-inoculated groups displayed gross and histological lesions consistent with PMWS. All pigs inoculated with PPV, alone or in combination with PCV2, displayed interleukin-10 responses in serum while only pigs infected with PPV in combination with PCV2 showed interferon-alpha in serum on repeated occasions. Thus, the pathogenicity of S-PCV2 was confirmed and a role for cytokines in the etiology of PMWS was indicated.