Age-Dependent Susceptibility to Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Infections is Likely Associated with Declining Levels of Maternal Antibodies
Porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD) was most commonly observed in 12- to 16-week-old pigs, based on submissions to a diagnostic lab in the Midwest between 2003 and 2010, according to researchers at Iowa State University. Under experimental conditions, they found that 12-week-old pigs had significantly lower PCV2 antibody levels than younger pigs at the time of inoculation and significantly higher PCV2 viraemia levels after PCV2 inoculation. The effect of passively acquired antibodies protecting against PCV2 challenge was less evident in older pigs.