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Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, Immunopathology, the Diagnosis of Pmws, an Emerging Disease Caused By a New Porcine Circovirus. Develop. of Recombinant

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New viral disease in pigs

Post weaning multi systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is a viral disease first identified in pigs in 1996. The VACCINES project seeks to discover and develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic products for the condition based on an increased level of knowledge surrounding its molecular pathology.

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The first step for scientists in the development of a diagnostic test is the ability to reproduce the viral pathogen causing PMWS, PCV2, in adequate levels in cell culture. This methodology comprises the correct choice of cells, adequate virus production protocols and a system allowing high-level purification and post-production isolation of viral particles. SK cells were chosen as the most suitable host cell type for the production of PCV 2. The cells were transfected with plasmids encoding viral material. Although PCV 2 was successfully obtained at the end of the procedure, experimental inoculation in pigs failed to result in PMWS, in spite of a lasting subclinical infection. This observation might be indicative of a possible interaction of PCV2 with other viruses prior to the onset of disease. This eventuality was examined further. The presence of other viral pathogens, including PRRSV and PCV1, was studied in PMWS affected pigs. PCV1 was found to play no role in PMWS pathology. However, experiments examining the effect of prior PRRSV infection in pigs inoculated with PCV2 showed that the combination resulted in the onset of PMWS. It is likely that PRRSV potentiates the replication of PCV2 exasperating its pathogenicity. The observations made during these studies are likely to be of great value in the further study of the disease, towards the development of novel therapeutics.

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