The levels of PCV2 specific antibodies and viremia in pigs

Porcine circovirus 2 quantification by real-time PCR and determination of virus specific antibodies using a peptide based ELISA test was performed on a total of 400 serum samples. Samples for antibody measurement and virus quantification were obtained from a conventional pig farm with a clinical form of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. Samples were taken during the post-weaning period. Seven litters of weaned piglets (6-25 weeks) were systematically sampled at 2-3 week intervals. Porcine circovirus 2 specific antibodies were detected using the peptide based ELISA test. IgM antibodies were first detected at week 8 and reached their highest levels at week 12; IgG antibody appeared at week 10 and peaked at week 16 with an average titer at 1:3500. Although, the viral load peaked at week 10 (7 x 10(7) genomes copy/ml of sera), viral infection persisted through to adult age (105 genomes copy/ml of sera). (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.