DES MOINES, Iowa – Producers don’t expect to see newborn piglets with circovirus but that might be occurring, said a Kansas State University specialist.
“Where is it coming from? Probably not from infection of the animal after it’s born. It’s probably in utero,” said Dick Hesse in an interview during the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.
It is generally believed that pigs get infected with circovirus after birth, but recent reports undermine that belief. It’s still too early to tell whether something new has developed, Hesse said.
“Is it a real observation or is it a fluke observation,” wondered Hesse.
Viruses mutate and change over time, causing possible changes in the nature of circovirus.
Producers might also be altering their practices, which would affect how diseases behave.
Hesse said one disturbing finding was that the circovirus vaccine given to newborn pigs was wearing off when the young females were 20 to 25 weeks old.
“That means the gilts at the time of breeding don’t have any of the antibodies,” said Hesse.
