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From a microbiological standpoint, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a small, relatively slow-growing virus. Yet from a swine production standpoint, the virus can have a devastating impact on pigs between 6 and 18 weeks of age.

While a number of factors influence clinical expression of the disease, subclinical PCV2 infection can often impact a production system in an insidious manner.

A presentation by Robert Desrosiers, DVM, during the 2008 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting, addressed this question: Is it possible to have PCV2- associated losses without clinical signs?

According to Desrosiers, a technical services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, one way to evaluate the role of subclinical PCV2 infection is to compare the performance of vaccinated and control pigs in field situations where there are no apparent clinical signs of PCVAD (porcine circovirus associated disease).¹

In one such case, he says, pigs vaccinated with Ingelvac CircoFLEX® were heavier at the end of the study and had reduced losses when compared to controls.

Mortality in this finishing unit was historically between two percent and six percent, and according to attending veterinarians, not due to PCVAD. In fact, there are numerous testimonials from the field reporting better performance in pigs after PCV2 vaccination than before PCVAD became a clinical problem. “This suggests that there are situations where the virus may have contributed to performance losses, without being recognized as such,” explains Desrosiers.

What this means, he says, is that almost all herds are infected with PCV2 and yet not all herds are recognizing the losses that can be associated with the infection.

Continue to 'Experiences from a Practitioner'

References:

1. Robert Desrosiers, DVM, BI Canada. Ten questions that remain on PCV2 and PCVAD. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. FLEX Symposium, AASV. March 2008.

2. François Cardinal, DVM, MSc, Les Consultants Avi-Porc, Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. PCVAD as seen by a practitioner. AASV proceedings 391-396, March 2008.