Type A2 congenital tremor in piglets

Abstract

A neonatal congenital tremor (CT) syndrome that sporadically occurs in Belgian piglets is described. The results of an epidemiologic follow-up survey on affected farms is presented. Experimental trials to provoke this syndrome by inoculation of a brain suspension, derived from CT-piglets, in pregnant sows by intramuscular and intrauterine way, partly succeeded. Histological and biochemical studies on brain tissue of these piglets indicated that this form of CT should be classified as an A2 form. Using serologic and virologic examinations we were however not able to identify the probably infectious CT-agent.