A viral gastroenteritis of Ontario swine. 1. Clinical illness and recovery of the virus

Abstract

A severe gastroenteritis affected Ontario pigs in the Spring of 1964 and again in 1966. The mortality of pigs less than a week of age was 100%, in older pigs there were few deaths although morbidity in these pigs approximated 100%. Viruses were isolated from the brains, intestines, and intestinal lymph nodes of baby pigs. One of these isolates, given by mouth to two colostrum deprived piglets, induced a severe enteritis 36 hours after administration and both of the piglets died 24 hours later. The characteristics of the disease and the virus bear a striking resemblance to transmissible gastroenteritis as seen in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.