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Prizes for PCV2 research
Max Thomas, Reporter, Central & Eastern Europe
22 April 2008

Professor Hans Nauwynck won one of the prizes for a proposal outlining a reproducible model of PMWS in pigs
Photo: University of Ghent
Professor Joaquim Segalés plans to investigate whether a novel one-shot PCV2 vaccine for piglets can protect against both the genotypes of PCV2
Photo: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Boehringer Ingelheim has given a total of €75,000 to the three winners of its first European Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) Research Award. The annual award was launched last summer to support projects in applied immunological PCV2 research (Animal Pharm No 618, p3).

Professor Hans Nauwynck of Ghent University, Belgium, won one of the prizes for a proposal outlining a reproducible model of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs.

PMWS causes poor growth and increased mortality in infected herds. To date, it has not been possible to induce these clinical signs through artificial infection with PCV2 in a reproducible model. Professor Nauwynck's project aims to address this problem.

A proposed study by Professor Joaquim Segalés of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, will assess the impact of the genetic diversity of PCV2 isolates on vaccine efficacy. Professor Segalés plans to investigate whether a novel one-shot PCV2 vaccine for piglets can protect against both the genotypes of PCV2.

Danja Wiederkehr and Dr Xavier Sidler of Vetsuisse University, Zurich, Switzerland, will investigate the differences in pathogenicity of PCV2 subgenotypes in Switzerland. They will try to identify which parts of the virus's genome are responsible for disease expression.

The award's judging panel includes some of Europe's leading scientists in applied porcine research, says Boehringer Ingelheim. The panel is chaired by Professor Maurice Pensaert of the Laboratory of Veterinary Virology at the University of Ghent, Belgium.

Research proposals for this year's award are being accepted until September 15th.

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