Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Research Article
Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 2 (1): 26 - 30
Http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2014.2.1.26.30
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Rinku Sharma1, G. Saikumar2*
1Regional Station, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India; 2National CSF Referral Laboratory and Swine Disease Laboratory, Division of Pathology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: saikumarivri@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) caused by Porcine Circovirus2 (PCV2) is an economically devastating disease of pigs that generally affects pigs in the postweaning stage. In a pig breeding farm located in Northern India, where Landrace crossbred pigs are maintained, occurrence and pathology of PCV2 associated diseases was investigated. In all, 238 piglets from 70 litters farrowed by first parity gilts were screened for PCV2 infection by PCR. PCV2 infection was detected in 17 preweaned piglets representing 13 litters. Age–wise breakup of the PCV2 positive piglets revealed that 13 piglets were below 4 week of age and 4 piglets were aged 30, 37, 42 and 49 days old, respectively. Pathological lesions characteristic of PMWS were observed in 4 piglets aged 4–7 week old. PCV2 was demonstrated in lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, brain, lymph nodes, spleen and tonsil by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in the tissues of the affected piglets. PCV2 positive pigs with PMWS–like lesions were negative for infection with Porcine Parvo Virus (PPV), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) and Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV), as determined by PCR/RT–PCR. The results suggested that PCV2 infection was responsible for PMWS–like disease syndrome in preweaned piglets.

Key Words: Porcine Circovirus 2, PMWS; Pathology, Preweaned pigs, India