title: A meta-analysis on experimental infections with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2).
abstract: A meta-analysis was performed with the aim to identify factors with a relevant influence on the expression of clinical postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) under experimental conditions. Data from 44 studies were included in the analysis. Several variables were studied: number of pigs in the experiment, intake of colostrum, serological status against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), strain of PCV2 used for inoculation, the route and dose of inoculation, and use of potential triggering factors (such as co-infections, vaccinations, or immunomodulator products). Multiple correspondence analysis and log-linear regression methods were used to establish the relationships between the studied variables and the number of PCV2 infected pigs that developed PMWS. Based on the results of the meta-analysis, the most successful animal experiment aimed to develop PMWS should include: (1) colostrum-deprived pigs, (2) age of inoculation below 3 weeks, (3) high doses of PCV2 inoculum, (4) PCV2 strain from genotype 1, and (5) co-infection with another swine pathogen as a triggering factor.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), UAB-IRTA, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. anna.tomas@cresa.uab.cat
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomás
authors.forename: Lana T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segalés
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D017925:Circovirus / Q000145:classification*; D053570:Porcine Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine