In pig farming, one of the major concerns that can cause severe losses is Circo Virus disease in pigs, caused by Porcine circovirus. Infected pigs will grow slowly, become weakened, and cause significant economic losses for farmers. Vemedim would like to share with farmers the important warning signs, effective handling methods, and preventive measures so you can proactively respond to this disease. Let’s take a look!
The causative agent of Circo Virus disease in pigs
Circo disease in pigs is caused by Porcine circovirus (PCV), which belongs to the Circoviridae family and is divided into two main types:
- PCV1: has existed for a long time, usually only infects cultured pig kidney cells and does not cause disease in actual pigs.
- PCV2: is the main cause of disease, associated with post-weaning wasting syndrome and dermatitis-nephropathy syndrome.
PCV2 is especially dangerous because:
- It can combine with complex respiratory diseases, swine asthma, Glässer’s disease, and many other infectious diseases, reducing productivity and growth performance in pigs.
- The virus can survive for a long time in the environment: 4–8 months, even without live pigs present, making disinfection and disease prevention difficult.
- The virus attacks pigs of all ages, from newborn piglets, weaned pigs to replacement gilts and finishing pigs before slaughter.
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Transmission routes of Circo Virus disease in pigs
Circo disease in pigs can spread rapidly through many different routes:
- Direct contact: healthy pigs that come into contact with infected pigs can easily become infected.
- Carrier sows: transmit the virus to piglets through the placenta or milk.
- Carrier boar semen: through breeding, the virus can spread within the herd.
- External environment: the virus can survive for a long time and enter pigs through the nose, mouth, or skin wounds.
- Substandard vaccines: using vaccines containing oil emulsion or improperly stored vaccines can also transmit the virus.
- External factors that make outbreaks worse include transport stress, overcrowding in barns, poor hygiene, and sudden temperature changes.
Mechanism of disease caused by PCV2
When it enters the pig’s body, PCV2 has a complex mode of action:
- The virus first attacks the lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, and lungs - the main organs involved in the immune response.
- Next, the virus invades lymphocytes, reducing the number of lymphocytes and leading to immunosuppression.
- A weakened immune system makes pigs more susceptible to secondary diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, blue ear disease, and pneumonia, causing additional losses for farmers.
- Piglets can be infected from the first day after birth, causing long-term effects on growth.
Thanks to this mechanism, PCV2 becomes a “silent” virus but has a widespread impact on the entire pig herd.
Symptoms when pigs are infected with Circo virus
Circo disease usually appears in finishing pigs from weaning to slaughter, with different signs depending on the disease form.
Wasting form:
- Pigs grow slowly, become stunted, and have rough hair coats; in particular, 10–20% of the herd may show delayed growth after weaning.
- Difficulty breathing, enlarged lymph nodes, jaundice, fever, diarrhea.
- Internal organs: swollen intestines, gastric ulcers, and pneumonia with consolidation.
- Pigs have poor resistance and may die suddenly due to secondary diseases.
Dermatitis-nephropathy form:
- Red spots and ulcers appear on the skin, usually concentrated on the rump and hind thighs; after a few days, the ulcers dry out and form scabs.
- Kidneys are swollen, pale, and sometimes hemorrhagic.
- The lungs hemorrhage, reducing respiratory capacity, and the pigs become weak and fatigued.
Symptoms may appear in individual pigs or throughout the herd, depending on the level of infection and husbandry conditions.
Intervention and treatment when pigs are infected with Circo Virus
Circo disease has no specific cure, but supportive treatment protocols can be applied to reduce lesions and prevent secondary infections:
- Clean the barn and improve resistance.
- Disinfect by spraying Vemedim Altacid, once a day.
- Symptomatic treatment: inject the anti-inflammatory Vemedim Analgindex (1 ml/20 kg body weight).
- Prevent secondary infections - enhance resistance:
+ Protocol 1: Inject CEFNOME 25 + GLUCO K-C + GATOSAL@100.
+ Protocol 2: Inject LINSPEC NEW + GLUCO K-C + GATOSAL@100.
+ Protocol 3: Inject TYLOGENT 200 + B.COMPLEX + GATOSAL@100.
- Supplement vitamins & minerals in feed with Vemedim Aminovit, Vemedim ADE B Complex,...
Circo Virus disease in pigs is a potential threat in pig farming, greatly affecting the health, productivity, and profits of farmers. Farmers need to proactively clean the environment, improve herd immunity, and coordinate with veterinarians to build a sustainable prevention and control strategy. Vemedim is always ready to accompany you in caring for and protecting a healthy pig herd. Please contact us for support whenever needed!
