Pig Mortality From PCV-2 Virus Bears Watching
US - A recent increase in mortality in growing and finishing pigs associated with porcine circovirus type 2 infections has prompted veterinarians to urge pork producers to be on the alert for the possibility in their own herds.Dr. Peter Bahnson, a swine veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, says that until recently, PCV-2 was associated primarily with nursery mortality.
The syndrome, often referred to as PMWS, or Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome, has appeared sporadically in the U.S. The syndrome was first reported in the prairie provinces of Canada in the 1990s and then spread to Europe.
In the past 12-18 months, however, mortality attributed to PCV-2 has been reported in older pigs in Canada, especially those 10-15 weeks of age, and primarily in Quebec and Ontario. Veterinarians attending the recent American Association of Swine Veterinarian's annual meeting in Kansas City reported seeing a similar syndrome of elevated grow/finish mortality in some U.S. herds.
"Wisconsin pork producers and veterinarians should watch for significant and otherwise unexplained increases in growing/finishing pig mortality," Dr. Bahnson says. "If this is observed, it is important to an seek an accurate and timely diagnosis."
He notes that PCV-2 infection is common, and the virus is often found on farms that are not experiencing the clinical syndrome.
For more information, visit our PMWS Technical ZoneSource: Wisconsin Ag Connection
3 April 2006
2 minute read
