Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) causes a range of severe disease syndromes in pigs, including wasting, immunosuppression, and death. Vaccination has transformed welfare outcomes in affected herds.
Pigs suffering from PCV2-associated disease experience a prolonged, distressing decline. The progressive wasting means these animals cannot maintain normal body condition despite eating. Secondary infections compound their suffering. The immunosuppressive effects mean affected animals are often battling multiple diseases simultaneously. Before widespread vaccination, the welfare toll was enormous - millions of pigs suffering and dying from preventable disease. The near-elimination of PMWS through vaccination stands as a powerful example of how veterinary intervention can deliver transformative welfare improvements at scale.