Pig diseases are linked, says VLA

4 February 2000

Pig diseases are linked, says VLA

POST-WEANING multisystemic syndrome (PWMS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) have been linked to each other and a pig virus, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2).

The two new diseases have been reported to share a number of similar features, and commonly occur on the same unit.

However, in a letter to Vet Record, Jan 29, Andrew Gresham of Bury St Edmunds VLA and colleagues not only recognise the link but also note that recent research has reproduced PWMS by infecting pigs with PCV-2 and porcine parvovirus (PPV).

The link with PCV-2 has since been to extended to PDNS after tests at an outbreak in East Anglia also isolated PCV-2 in pig lesions. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why incidences of PDNS have surged dramatically in England and Wales, says Mr Gresham.

The letter also outlines findings of a VLA survey which revealed 105 incidents of PDNS had been identified since August 1998; of these, fatalities ranged from 0.25% to 20%. Like PWMS, most outbreaks occurred in East Anglia.

Despite links between the two diseases, there have been far fewer reported cases of PMWS. Since August the same survey reported 21 incidents, with morbidity ranging from 2 to 22%.