PMWS and PDNS - two recently recognised diseases of pigs in the UK

THE clinicopathological manifestations of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and, in particular, porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), have caused considerable concern owing to their similarities to those of classical swine fever (CSF) and African swine fever (ASF). This has led to a dramatic increase in the number of notifiable disease investigations, triggered mainly by outbreaks of PDNS. The significance of these similarities was apparent when cases of CSF were confirmed in East Anglia in August 2000 - the first to occur in Great Britain since 1986. However, even before this outbreak occurred, it was clear, once CSF and ASF had been ruled out, that a new disease to the UK, namely PMWS, was affecting pig herds in the south and east of England and that PDNS was being seen as a common sequela to this syndrome. This article describes the clinical signs associated with PMWS and PDNS. In addition, it discusses the epidemiological findings to date and provides some guidelines on control.