Fetal mummification associated with porcine parvovirus infection
Mengeling, W.L.; Cutlip, R.C.; Wilson, R.A.; Parks, J.B.; Marshall, R.F.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 166(10): 993-995
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 1126862 Document Number: 94776
A crossbred gilt farrowed 2 mummified foetuses at term but subsequently developed uterine inertia and became listless. The remaining 5 foetuses of the litter (4 mummified and 1 normal appearing) were collected by hysterectomy. Porcine parvovirus (PPV) was isolated from tissues of the mummified foetuses, and masses of viral antigen were detected throughout the same tissues when cryostat sections were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Serum from the normal-appearing foetus of this litter had a haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer for PPV of 320. The finding of antibody (HI titer of 1280) in serum collected from the gilt on the day of farrrowing, but not in serum collected 67 days before, indicated initial exposure to PPV during gestation.