Update on syndromes and clinical problems associated with porcine circovirus type 2 infection

The porcine circoviruses (PCV) are members of the genus Circovirus, family Circoviridae. Two types of PCV have been characterized and were named Porcine Circovirus type 1/PCVl and Porcine Circovirus type 2/PCV2. PCV1 is considered to be avirulent, since it has never been associated with the occurrence of swine disease. On the contrary, PCV2 is identified as virulent porcine pathogen and the virus is considered to have a potential pathogenic role to Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS) and other porcine diseases, although the pathogenesis of this emerging viral infection has not been yet determined. The association of PCV2 and PMWS is now well established. However, it is believed that co-infection with the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is necessary for the clinical expression of the syndrome, while Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, a common finding in PMWS cases, increases the incidence and the severity of PMWS in pigs. The results of experimental trials indicate that PCV2 may need co-factors and/or a long period of incubation to fully reproduce PMWS, while the stimulation of the immune system after vaccination might be a pivotal event in the production of PMWS. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs, necropsy, on the presence of the characteristic histopathological lesions in lymphoid tissues and the presence of PCV2 (antigens, nucleic acid) within the lesions. PDNS has been reported in several pig-producing countries and is characterized by the presence of hemorrhagic skin lesions, oedema of the limbs, necrotizing vasculitis and glomerulonephritis, affecting pigs of 1.4-4 months old. The demonstration of PCV2 antigens and nucleic acid, closely associated with skin and renal lesions, has led to the speculation that PCV2 is an aetiologic agent of this syndrome. Although PCV2 has been consistendy detected in PDNS, lesions consistent with this syndrome have yet to be reproduced experimentally. It is likely that many factors, such as overcrowding, poor ventilation, commingling of different agegroups, co-infection of viruses and bacteria, and other stressors, may act in a synergistic fashion to trigger as yet unidentified mechanisms to induce PDNS. Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC) is a serious health problem in growing and finishing pigs aged around 16-22 weeks. Pneumonia in pigs with PRDC is due to a combination of both viral and bacterial agents, such as PRRSV,