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Abstract
The results of virus and antigen distribution following experimental infection of
colostrum deprived pigs with pig circovirus (PCV) by oral/nasal and intravenous routes
are reported. PCV and antigen were detected using virus isolation and indirect immunofluorescence
on cryostat sections respectively. PCV antigen was detected in tissues throughout
the body but primarily in spleen thymus, and lung. No PCV antigen or virus was detected
in tissue samples from the central nervous system. Examination of pig foetal material
from field cases of abortion/stillbirth resulted in 3 PCV isolates from 2 sera and
a spleen sample from 2 groups of stillborn piglets from the same farm. No antibody
to PCV alone was detected in 160 foetal sera tested. These results suggest that transplacental
infection with PCV does occur, possibly prior to foetal immunocompetance. However,
it is probably not a significant cause of reproductive disorders in pigs in Northern
Ireland.