Abstract:

Longitudinal field study of the effect of a commercial porcine circovirus type 2 vaccine on postweaning mortality in New Zealand farms

Eric Neumann, MS, DVM; Sarah Simpson, BS; Julie Wagner, BVSc; Branko Karaconji, DVM

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Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a commercial porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine in reducing postweaning mortality in a multi-site field setting.

Materials and methods: In 2007, a PCV2 vaccine recommended for use in piglets ≥ 4 weeks of age was made available in New Zealand for control of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD). The effectiveness of vaccination in reducing mortality attributed to the disease was determined on nine farms that met the New Zealand case definition for postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), a specific clinical expression of PCVAD. During 2006 and 2007, mortality data were collected from 138 groups of pigs affected by PMWS but not vaccinated and 67 groups affected by PMWS but immunized with PCV2 vaccine. Historical data were available from 130 groups on the study farms prior to the appearance of PMWS.

Results: Average postweaning mortality prior to the appearance of PMWS was 2.86%. After farms were affected by PMWS, postweaning mortality averaged 10.38%, a response consistent with other reports of the disease. Subsequent to instituting use of PCV2 vaccine on these affected farms, mean postweaning mortality was 5.02%.

Implications: Use of PCV2 vaccine is effective in reducing the level of postweaning mortality on farms affected with PMWS, although it may be unable to return mortality to levels seen prior to occurrence of the disease.

Keywords: postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, PMWS, porcine circovirus type 2, PCV2, porcine circovirus associated disease, PCVAD, vaccine

RIS citationCite as: Neumann E, Simpson S, Wagner J, et al. Longitudinal field study of the effect of a commercial porcine circovirus type 2 vaccine on postweaning mortality in New Zealand farms. J Swine Health Prod 2009;17(4):204-209.

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