PORCINE CIRCOVIRUSES: Novel circovirus infections of pigs - a target for vaccination

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0588

Key words (English)

Porcine; virus; wasting; vaccine; diagnosis;
Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Safety; Scientific Research; Social Aspects;
Porcine circovirus (PCV2); pathogenesis; epidemiology; vaccination; immunology of porcine circovirus; PCV characterization

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK2-1999-00445

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.2 Control of infectious diseases

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen BVET
Institut für Viruskrankheiten u. Immunprophylaxe IVI
Sektion Immunologie

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: The Queen's University of Belfast (UK)

Abstract (English)

Define the host range and pathogenesis of PCV2 isolates from EU and N America.
Establish the prevalence of PCV2 infection and PCV2-related disease in EU and N America
Determine the effects of PCV2 infection on porcine immune functions.
To characterize PCV2 isolates from EU and N America
To develop and test candidate vaccines
Brief description
This project is divided into five work packages (WPs). WP1 will investigate the pathogenic range of PCV2infections using in vitro and in vivo experimental infections. Pregnant sows will be experimentally inoculated with PCV2 virus isolated from a reproductive disorder in sows and young pigs inoculated with PCV2 isolates from pigs with wasting syndromes. These experimentally infected animals will be observed for clinical illness and tissues and blood taken for virus isolation, immunocytochemistry, histopathology and immunology (WP3) studies. WP1 will be used to define a challenge model for PCV2 candidate vaccines (WP5). In vitro inoculation with PCV2 of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from species other than pigs will indicate the capability of this virus to replicate in other species. Depending on the results, limited experimental infections of other farmed species will be carried out. These animals will be assayed for clinical signs etc. as described above for pigs. WP2 will compliment WP1 and investigate the incidence of PCV2 infection in EU member states and elsewhere. An epidemiological survey will be carried out by questionnaire and samples taken for serological testing (ELISA), virus isolation and immunocytochemistry. WP3 will investigate the effect of PCV2 infection on porcine immune functions and the consequent immunopathology of PCV2-related disease. In vitro studies will identify the immune cell type targeted by PCV2 and the effects of PCV2 replication in these cells on their specific and related functions. Blood samples collected from WP1 will also be assayed for evidence of immune dysfunction. WP4 will analyse antigenic and genomic differences between PCV2 isolates from different clinical conditions and different geographic locations (using existing isolates and isolates obtained from WP2). Information from WP3 and WP4 will be used in the design and production of recombinant and DNA vaccines (WP5). Candidate vaccines will be assessed for safety and efficacy using the vaccine challenge model established in WP1.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0588