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Porcine circovirus diseases
Porcine circovirus diseases have traditionally been defined as those associated with porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) infection. However, this terminology should be revised because the advent of the novel porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) may expand the clinicopathologic outcome caused by porcine circovirus infections. Porcine circovirus 1 (PCV-1) is still considered a nonpathogenic agent for swine.
Historically, PCV-1 was described as a noncytopathogenic, picornavirus-like contaminant in the porcine kidney cell line PK-15 (ATCC-CCL33). This agent was later shown to be a small, nonenveloped virus containing a single-stranded, circular DNA genome; it was named porcine circovirus (PCV). PCV antibodies in swine were found to be widespread, and experimental infections with this virus in pigs did not result in clinical disease, suggesting that PCV was nonpathogenic.
PCV-2 has been further associated with a number of disease syndromes in pigs, so the term porcine circovirus disease (PCVD) was proposed as a collective name. The terms PCV2-systemic disease (PCV2-SD) and PCV2-reproductive disease (PCV2-RD) have been proposed to replace PMWS and PCV2-associated reproductive failure, respectively. Moreover, it is currently thought that the most important PCVD is the PCV2-subclinical infection (PCV2-SI), which is linked with growth retardation without overt clinical signs. Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) is also included as a PCVD, although there is still no proof that PCV2 is the antigen linked with this immunocomplex disease.
PCV-3 has been recently linked with reproductive disorders and multisystemic inflammation associated with vasculitis, as well as with PDNS. Like the other porcine circoviruses, PCV-3 is found worldwide.
Test results expected in the next two days will determine whether the pig disease, post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), has entered Australia.
PMWS has not been seen in Australia before, but post-mortem test results from two piggeries in South Australia and New South Wales have sparked an investigation by veterinary authorities.
The move comes after Australian Pork Limited took Federal Court action, to try to stop pork imports claiming they were a disease risk.
The...
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A potentially devastating piglet disease could have reached Australia for the first time, authorities said today.
The Department of Agriculture is investigating two suspected cases of the post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in South Australia and NSW.
Australia is one of the few countries to have been spared the disease, but a Federal Court ruling last month found quarantine authorities had ignored warnings that pork imports would effectively guarantee the disease would...
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Lost in the Market Uncertainty Caused by the Outbreak
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The Western College of Veterinary Medicine says, because the virus responsible for Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome is endemic is swine herds, depopulation is not considered a realistic option for dealing with the infection.
Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome is a swine disease which typically occurs between six and 15 weeks of age.
It was discovered about 10 years ago but is creating controversy as the Australian swine industry attempts to use the courts to block...
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An Associate Professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine says good management is the best defense against Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome.
Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome or PMWS was originally discovered about ten years ago in Western Canada and has gradually spread worldwide.
The Australian swine industry is attempting to block the import of pork from nations which have reported outbreaks.
The disease affects only pigs with the symptoms...
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New Zealand pork producers are nervous that imported pork is jeopardising efforts to rid this country of PMWS (post weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome).
The disease, which was first identified in New Zealand in 2003, has been contained through a co-operative approach between the New Zealand Pork Industry Board and Biosecurity New Zealand.
Pork Industry Board Chairman, Chris Trengrove, said the disease is endemic in most pork producing countries and is devastating for affected...
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Australia's leading pork producer's group will decide tomorrow what legal action it will take over pig meat imports.
Australian Pork Limited (APL) has previously threatened to launch an injunction against the Department of Agriculture unless the Federal Government revoked import permits.
The Government announced yesterday that that will not happen.
Nigel Smith from Australian Pork says he is disappointed that the decision was not based on science.
"We represent 2,500 pork producers in...
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Comparison of amino acid digestibility in feed ingredients for mini and commercial pigs
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The federal government will take an appeal against a judge's ruling on the nation's quarantine system to the full Federal Court.
The Agriculture Department outlined its grounds for appeal against a decision by Justice Murray Wilcox which has undermined the entire system used by quarantine authorities.
It follows Justice Wilcox's finding earlier this month in which he strongly criticised quarantine agency Biosecurity Australia and an import risk analysis it compiled that cleared the way...
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New challenges caused by diseases affecting the immune system of pigs have been addressed at meetings in China, Taiwan and the Philippines, in early June 2005. The meetings focused on two major causes of reduced immunity in pigs: Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) and mycotoxins. In total, more than 700 people came to attend these meetings and the long time spent on each occasion during the"questions and answers"session clearly showed their keen interest in these...
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Toxicity of different Fusarium mycotoxins on growth performance, immune responses and efficacy of a mycotoxin degrading enzyme in pigs (Extract)
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Australian Pork Limited is seeking an immediate ban on all pork imports from countries affected by the exotic disease Post Weaning Systematic Wasting Syndrome.
The APL board was responding to a decision handed down by Mr Justice Wilcox in the Federal Court on May 27, which declared import protocols for pig meat invalid.
APL began legal action in July 2004 against the Director of Quarantine who ordered in May 2004 that conditional entry of pig meat from countries with PMWS should be...
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A common pig virus at the centre of a looming pork trade dispute is probably already present in Australia and should not be used as a trade barrier, Canadian scientific experts say.
An Australian court ruling that could result in a ban on pork imports from Canada, Denmark and the United States as early as next week is based on politics, not science, said John Ellis, a researcher at the University of Saskatchewan's veterinary college.
"I think is another example of a non-tariff trade...
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In Australia, federal court judge Murray Wilcox has criticised the nation's quarantine chief for allowing the importation of pork from several nations.
In a strongly worded judgment, he said the decision to allow the imports would ensure post weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), which kills millions of piglets globally each year, would make its way into Australia.
He ruled Biosecurity Australia must develop a new import risk assessment, and must consult with Australia Pork Ltd...
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The Australian pork industry is within its domestic and international rights to fight a quarantine decision that could wipe out millions of local pigs, a key industry leader says.
Australian Pork Ltd (APL) chairman Nigel Smith said quarantine rules appeared to be swinging too much in support of free trade and not enough to preserving Australia's high disease-free status.
His warning echoed criticism last week by Federal Court Justice Murray Wilcox of a decision by the nation's quarantine...
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Lost in the Market Uncertainty Caused by the Outbreak
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Poor farm biosecurity helped in the spread of pig wasting disease PMWS, a new study has claimed.
The British Pig Executive-funded research, carried out by the University of Warwick, found that it took just three years for the disease to become endemic in the UK pig herd after it was first identified in south-east England in 2000.
It spread slowly north and, by 2003, the first cases were identified in Scotland.
Factors associated with farms that broke down early in the epidemic were...
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The credibility of the Import Risk Analysis process is in tatters today after the Federal Court vindicated the pork industry's concerns over the inadequacy of Australia’s quarantine protocols.
Justice Murray Wilcox ruled in the Federal Court today that the decision made by the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine on 10 May 2004 to adopt Biosecurity Australia’s Import Risk Analysis for imported pigmeat to be so unreasonable that no reasonable person could have made it.
Australian Pork...
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The need to keep our country free from emergency diseases such as: Classical Swine Fever, PRRS, PMWS, foot-and-mouth disease, BSE and Avian influenza has drawn commitments from State and Federal Governments and agricultural bodies to collaborate on protecting Australia's 'clean from disease' reputation.
In a series of initiatives including training, simulations, hotlines and awareness campaigns, implemented on behalf of the Australian Government, State Departments of Primary Industry and...
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The pork industry has stepped up its efforts to help keep Australia free from imported diseases.
Pig industry concerns focus especially on Swine Fever, PRRS, PMWS, foot-and-mouth disease, BSE and Avian influenza.
The pork industry comments about biosecutiry come just as Australia received a wake-up call, when New Zealand was rocked by a foot and mouth outbreak scare last week.
In a series of initiatives, producers are being provided with the skills and resources to minimise the risk...
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Comparison of amino acid digestibility in feed ingredients for mini and commercial pigs
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A major piece of research financed by Defra and the British Pig Executive (BPEX) has shed new light on the spread of PMWS.
The work was carried out by the University of Warwick and shows PMWS spread through Great Britain like an epidemic of a new infectious disease. The results will be presented to the Pig Veterinary Society at a meeting in Leeds on May 12 and 13.
A team of researchers collected data from 116 farms in England and Scotland from 2003 - 2004. Farmers were asked whether they...
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Pig slaughterings in 2005 are forecast to rise by 2% after an increase in the number of maiden gilts feeds through.
The Dec 2004 UK pig herd total of 476,000 was down by 7.4% on the previous year but maiden gilt numbers have risen by 13.8%.
This will be the first year on year increase in slaughter numbers since 1998, said to be due to increased sow productivity.
UK herd health and output has been greatly compromised by PRRS (Blue Ear Disease) since the early 1990s and more recently...
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Toxicity of different Fusarium mycotoxins on growth performance, immune responses and efficacy of a mycotoxin degrading enzyme in pigs (Extract)
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Some setbacks in pigs that are commonly attributed to wasting disease are much more likely to be stress-related or nutritional in origin, and diet choice is a key factor, says Pork Chain Solutions.
Any compromise in feeding in the critical post-weaning phase will continue to manifest itself through the pig's life. This means producers end up grappling with symptoms rather than cause - particularly where the pigs change sites or departments.
Under these circumstances it is more difficult...
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The majority of New Zealand pork producers have voted to proceed with the development of a Pest Management Strategy (PMS) under the Biosecurity Act that will assist in containing the spread of the pig disease Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS).
Producers representing 72% of the New Zealand pork production base, voting in a referendum conducted by the New Zealand Pork Industry Board voted in favour of proceeding with the development of the PMS.
The Board’s Chief...
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