Genetic characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 in Republic of Korea

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a major causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses based on the ORF2 capsid protein gene fragment showed that field isolate in Republic of Korea (ROK), PCV2 YJK 0703, was closely related with the PCV2 Fh18 isolate. PCV2 YJK 0703 was genetically distinct and not related to previously reported ROK isolates. Therefore, genotypic variation exists among prevailing PCV2 in ROK. This result suggests that several PCV2 genotypes exist in Korean pig farms.We thank Jin-Sun Kim at DaeSang Farmsco for field samples, Ki-Jung Yun at Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, WonKwang University for histopathological expertise, and Dong-Ho Nho for assistance. This work was supported by theKorea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD) KRF-2006-331-E00358