Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), which was first identified in western Canada in 1991 and more recently in the United States, Europe and Asia, is an emerging disease in pigs. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) is the primary infectious viral agent causing PMWS, but the full expression of the disease may require the presence of other agents. It is reported that there is apparent synergism between PCV-2 and porcine parvovirus (PPV) in increasing the severity of the clinical signs and lesions of PMWS. From January 2006 to May 2008, a total of the 154 lymph node samples were collected from 4~12 weeks old pigs which had been submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Korea. These pigs were diagnosed as PMWS on the basis of clinical and pathological examination from 48 commercial herds in Jeju Island. Based on the immunohistochemistry, porcine parvovirus was detected in 69 cases (44.8%) from 154 weaned or grower pigs. PPV antigens were detected in the cytoplasm of histiocytic cells multifocally infiltrated in the cortex and paracortex of lymph nodes. The results of this study clarify that PPV is prevalent in pigs with PMWS on Jeju Island. Therefore PPV is one of the most important co-agents in the development of naturally acquired PMWS. This study may be helpful to the control of this disease and to epidemiological aspects.

To detect viral agents and isolate porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), 60 samples of lung and lymph node were collected from 5 to 12 week-old pigs that had showed clinical signs of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were conducted to identify the viral pathogens including PCV1, PCV2, porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) that have been considered to be the causal agents of PMWS. Among 60 samples, PCV 2 was detected from 57 samples but no PCV 1 was detected.

A porcine parvovirus inactivated vaccine was prepared and inoculated to 7 piglets and also 8 guinea-pigs, and their serum antibodies were titrated. Twenty-two field serum samples of unvaccinated sows were also tested by SN and HI methods. It was observed that SN test was superior over HI test. Therfore, it is suggested that the SN test could well be used in the detection of serum antibody for PPV in vaccinated pigs