Porcine Circovirus

Porcine Circovirus is a member of the virus family Circoviridae. There are two serotypes: Type 1 (PCV1), first discovered in 1974, and Type 2 (PCV2), discovered in 1997. These are relatively small, non-enveloped, circular DNA viruses which are quite stable in the environment and resistant to many common disinfectants. PCV2 is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs. This disease causes illness in piglets, with clinical signs including progressive loss of body condition, visibly enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty in breathing, and sometimes diarrhea, pale skin, and jaundice. However, the exact relationship between PCV2 infection and PMWS remains unclear.