
Exploring the benefits of PCV-2 blanket vaccination in sows
The average piglet birth weight from the 3 groups of vaccinated sows was statistically higher than that from the unvaccinated sows.
Animal Health Research Centre (CReSA). Spain
Sergio López Soria was born in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona) in 1977 and became a DVM from the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in 2001. In 2010 he obtained his diploma from the European College of Porcine Health Management. He started his research career in 2002 in the Animal Health Department at the UAB, studying epidemiologic aspects of the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Since 2003 he is part of the Centre de Recerca de Sanitat Animal (CReSA, Animal Health Research Centre), where he has participated in more that 100 preclinical and clinical tests with biological, pharmacological and nutraceutical products intended for veterinary use; as well as in 10 national and 3 European projects associated with animal health in livestock species.
As a result of his research activity he is co-author of 20 articles published in international journals (11 of them related to the PCV2), and totals 49 contributions in congresses.
Updated CV 14-May-2013
The average piglet birth weight from the 3 groups of vaccinated sows was statistically higher than that from the unvaccinated sows.
This article deals with the factors to be considered for deciding the optimal time of vaccination against PCV2 and shows the results of a study that evaluates the efficacy of different vaccination programs in PCV2 subclinically infected piglets.
The loss associated with decreased ADWG was of 13.1 € and 7.5 €/pig at 21 weeks of age for pigs with high and medium serum PCV2 load under the scenario studied.
The virus is highly resistant in the environment, showing also high resistance to chemical and thermal treatments.
The PCV2 has been associated, in an ongoing way and throughout time, with more pathologies called, collectively, diseases associated with the PCV2 (PCVDs): PCV2 systemic disease, PCV2 lung disease, PCV2 enteric disease, PCV2 reproductive disease,PCV2 subclinical infection and porcine dermatitis and nephropaty syndrome.
Novelties about the excretion routes, the transmission routes, the risk factors, etc., and explanation about how the PCV2 becomes a pathogenic virus.
The most effective way of avoiding the production losses associated with the PCV2 consists in avoiding the appearance of the viraemia by inducing a passive or an active immunity that minimizes the circulation of the virus in the farm.