PMWS Research

August 23, 2005 — Scott Dee
  [ES]

Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pig herds worldwide. Recently, some international reports have suggested the possibility of the emergence of a more severe clinical presentation than is commonly observed with reported mortalities as high as 50%. Some reports also suggest an increase in the frequency of cases and a shift in the age at which the syndrome appears, reportedly occurring in more frequently in young grow-finish pigs.

The AASV encourages swine disease researchers to proceed in a cooperative, coordinated and organized effort to better understand the etiology associated with PMWS with the goal of developing management strategies, preventatives and therapies to minimize the impact of this syndrome. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Swine Disease Eradication Center have accumulated a large collection of diagnostic samples from PMWS cases, which they are willing to make available at no charge to further a collaborative investigation into this potentially devastating disease. If interested in accessing these samples, please contact Scott Dee at deexx004@umn.edu.