This study was carried out to investigate the pathogenesis and pathogenicity of the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Korean isolate from weaned pigs. Twenty four weaned pigs, PCV2, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine parvovirus (PPV) antibodies free, were allocated to 4 groups (n=6). Six pigs were inoculated intranasally with PCV2 alone, 6 with PCV2 and PRRSV, 6 with the combined PCV2/PRRSV/PPV inoculum, and 6 were remained as a uninoculated negative control. Pigs were killed 3 and 6 weeks after inoculation and tissue samples examined for gross and microscopic lesions and for the presence of PCV2 antigens and nucleic acids.

Total 160 head of porcine kidneys were examined for gross and histopathological lesions and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), Leptospira species and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Grossly, 137 kidneys (85.6%) had lesions characterized by the presence of the scattered white foci. Microscopically, multifocal interstitial nephritis, which classified into 4 grades such as, no lesion (Score 0), mild lesion (Score 1), moderate lesion (Score 2) and severe chronic lesion (Score 3) with fibrosis, was observed in 159 cases (99.4%).