REPRODUCTIVE FAILURE IN SOWS FOLLOWING EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION WITH A BELGIAN EMCV ISOLATE

In this study, a transplacental infection with fetal death was demonst rated following inoculation of pregnant sows with a Belgian encephalom yocarditis virus (EMCV) isolate. Eight multiparus sows were inoculated between 60 and 92 days of gestation with this EMCV-isolate to investi gate its ability to cause reproductive failure in sows. Virus persiste nce and antibody titre in their offspring were also studied. Only the two sows inoculated at 60 days of gestation showed premature farrowing , but all sows seroconverted to EMCV. Virus was recovered from the off spring of all sows at the time of farrowing, but not from every piglet born. One month after birth EMCV could be isolated from all the pigle ts examined. These results can help in a better understanding of the s pread of the disease in piggeries.