Abortion in pigs
Common causes of abortion in swine in New South Wales include leptospirosis, streptococcal infections and toxaemic conditions in the sow. Other possible causes include genetic factors, oestrogenic feeds, Erysipelas, encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and vitamin A deficiency.
Abortion should be differentiated from parturient and immediate post parturient deaths due to hypoxia and managerial factors such as injury or stress, smothering and chilling.
NB.
parvovirus infection causes foetal mummification and parturient deaths; it does not normally cause abortion.
Specimens required
- Aborted foetuses and membranes submitted chilled.
- Serum sample from the aborting sow and up to 10 herd mates, submitted chilled.