Prevalence of infection with porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in an integrated swine production system experiencing postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of infection with porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) through a longitudinal study in an integrated swine production system (7 farms) experiencing postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Risk factors for PCV-2 infection and for PCV-2 and PRRSV coinfection were also evaluated. Fifteen sows from each herd and 4 non-cross-fostered piglets from each sow were randomly selected at farrowing and ear-tagged at birth. Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies to PCV-2 and for detection of the PCV-2 and PRRSV genomes. Statistical analyses involved 2 approaches. The 1st approach characterized the dynamics of PCV-2 infection and their relationship with PRRSV infection. The 2nd approach analyzed the probability of being infected by PCV-2 or by both PCV-2 and PRRSV through a generalized linear mixed model incorporating sow and farm characteristics. At the 1st sampling time (1 wk of age), there was a significant relationship between sow PCV-2 infection and piglet PCV-2 infection (P < 0.0001). The risk of PCV-2 and PRRSV coinfection was 1.85 times greater in piglets from a sow with low titers of PCV-2 antibodies than in piglets from sows with medium to high titers (P = 0.03) and was 2.54, 2.40, and 2.02 times greater, respectively, in piglets from primiparous sows, PCV-2-infected sows, and farms in an area of high pig density than in piglets from sows of higher parity (P = 0.004), noninfected sows (P = 0.04), and farms in a low-density area (P = 0.09).