In utero infection of swine fetuses with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (bovine herpesvirus-1)

The pathogenesis of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus (bovine herpesvirus-1) was studied in porcine fetuses after in utero inoculation. Laparotomies were performed on 8 seronegative pregnant sows at 34 to 86 days of gestation, and all fetuses in 1 uterine horn of each sow were exposed to IBR virus via inoculation into the amniotic sacs. Fetuses in the other horn served as controls. Clinical signs of infection were not observed in the sows, except for 2 sows that aborted at postinoculation days (PID) 11 and 15. Fetuses of the remaining 6 sows were collected at slaughter on PID 15 to 28. Fetuses were examined for gross abnormalities, presence of IBR virus in tissues, and the formation of neutralizing antibodies to IBR virus. Of 33 inoculated fetuses from 6 sows, 10 were mummified, 11 were hemorrhagic and/or edematous, and 12 were alive. Necrotic lesions were observed on the skin and in the liver of dead and live fetuses. Virus was recovered from 29 of 33 inoculated fetuses. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus was isolated from fetal skin, liver, lungs, kidney, spleen, stomach contents, brain, amniotic fluid, and placenta. Virus was isolated from 4 of 11 fetuses recovered from 1 aborting sow. Antibodies to IBR virus were not detected in sera from the sows. However, antibodies were detected in 6 of 15 fetuses inoculated at 63 to 86 days of gestation and collected at slaughter at 86 to 112 days of gestation. The youngest fetus with detectable IBR antibody was estimated to be 74 days of gestation by measuring crown-rump length of the fetus.     

Transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from persistently infected sows to contact controls.

The objective of this study was to determine if porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) could persist in non-pregnant sows and if persistently infected sows could transmit virus to naive contact controls. Twelve PRRSV-naive, non-pregnant sows (index sows) were infected with a field isolate of PRRSV and housed in individual isolation rooms for 42 to 56 days postinfection. Following this period, 1 naive contact sow was placed in each room divided by a gate allowing nose-to-nose contact with a single index sow. Index sows were not viremic at the time of contact sow entry. Virus nucleic acid was detected by polymerase chain reaction, and infectious virus was detected by virus isolation in sera from 3 of the 12 contact sows at 49, 56, and 86 days postinfection. All 3 infected contacts developed PRRSV antibodies. Virus nucleic acid was detected in tissues of all of the 12 index sows at 72 or 86 days postinfection. Nucleic acid sequencing indicated that representative samples from index and infected contacts were homologous (> 99%) to the PRRSV used to infect index sows at the onset of the study. This study demonstrates that PRRSV can persist in sows and that persistently infected sows can transmit virus to naive contact animals.     

Viremia and effect of fetal infection with porcine viruses with special reference to porcine circovirus 2 infection

This publication reviews some pathogenetic features of the transplacental infection with porcine viruses in sows. Viremia either with virus freely circulating or associated to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is an essential part of such pathogenesis. Virus replication occurs either in fetal tissues only or both in fetal and maternal tissues and the outcome may be different.Since porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) has been associated with reproductive failure in sows, the question was asked what type of viremia PCV2 causes and what the effect of PCV2 is on the pregnant uterus. Seronegative gilts were oronasally inoculated and plasma and PBMC were monitored for infectious virus and for quantity of viral DNA copies. Infectious virus was found in plasma only at 21 days post-inoculation (DPI). Virus associated to PBMC was detected between 14 and 49 DPI. Viral DNA was found in plasma between 14 and 49 DPI and associated to PBMC between 7 and 63 DPI (end of experiment). Direct intra-fetal inoculation at 57, 75 and 92 days of gestation and collection of fetuses 21 days later showed that the virus replicates highly in fetal tissues, particularly in the heart. Fetal death occurred in the 57 days sows while virus and antibodies were observed in the 75- and 92-day inoculated sows. Inoculation at 57 and 75 days of gestation and collection of the piglets at the end of pregnancy showed that intrauterine spread had occurred to fetuses adjacent to the inoculated ones and that fetal death occurred also in the presence of antibodies. The pregnancy was not interrupted.This study shows that PCV2 causes viremia which is largely cell-associated and that virus replication in fetuses causes fetal death with mummification. Whether such transplacental infection occurs in the immune sow population is questionable.     

The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus-induced enteritis in preweaning piglets

The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV)-induced enteritis were examined in neonatal piglets. Six pregnant sows were randomly allocated to an infected (n=3) or control group (n=3). Three pregnant sows were inoculated intranasally with 6 mL of tissue culture fluid containing 1.2 x 10(5) tissue culture infective doses 50% (TCID(50))/mL of PCV2 strain SNUVR000470 three weeks before the expected farrowing date. Three control pregnant sows were similarly exposed to uninfected cell culture supernatants. Thirty piglets from PCV2-infected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B) of 15 piglets each. Another 30 piglets from noninfected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (C and D) of 15 piglets each. The piglets in groups A and C were dosed orally at three days of age with 2mL of virus stock (1 x 10(6.5) TCID(50)/mL) of the PEDV strain, SNUVR971496, at the third passage. The mean villous height and crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A) were significantly different from those of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) at 36, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) (P<0.05). In PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A), significantly more PEDV nucleic acid was detected in the jejunal tissues (P<0.05) at 24 hpi than in the same tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C). Thereafter, at 36, 48, 60, and 70 hpi significantly more PEDV nucleic acid (P<0.05) was detected in the jejunal tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) than those of the PEDV-infected piglets from the PCV2-infected sows (group A). It is concluded that the clinical course of PEDV disease was markedly affected by transplacental infection of PCV2.     

Experimental reproduction of porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome (mystery swine disease) by infection with Lelystad virus: Koch's postulates fulfilled

Aerosol exposure of eight pregnant sows to cell-culture- propagated Lelystad virus resulted in clinical signs characteristic of so-called mystery swine disease. After an incubation of 4-7 days, all sows were inappetant and listless for 6-9 days. Two sows developed a transient red-blue discolouration of the ears ('abortus blauw' or blue ear disease) accompanied by abdominal respiration, and two had a fever for one day only. One sow aborted at 109 days of gestation. The other seven sows, farrowing between 113 and 117 days of gestation, gave birth to numerous mummified, dead, and weak piglets. Of these seven, the mean number of piglets born dead to each sow was 4.6 and the mean number born alive was 7.7; 3.1 piglets per sow (40%) died within the first week. Lelystad virus was isolated from 31 piglets, which were born dead or died shortly after birth. Antibody was detected in precolostral blood samples or ascitic fluids of 23 piglets, a finding which demonstrated transplacental passage of the virus in six out of eight litters. We conclude that Lelystad virus is the causal agent of mystery swine disease. Since its aetiology is no longer a mystery, we propose the more appropriate name 'porcine epidemic abortion and respiratory syndrome (PEARS)'.     

Prevention of transplacental transmission of moderate-virulent classical swine fever virus after single or double vaccination with an E2 subunit vaccine

The use of a vaccine against classical swine fever virus (CSFV) during an outbreak of CSF should lead to a reduction in the horizontal or vertical transmission of CSFV. The reduction of vertical, i.e. transplacental, transmission of a moderate-virulent strain of CSFV from the sow to its offspring was studied in sows vaccinated once or twice with a CSFV E2 subunit vaccine. Two groups of nine sows were vaccinated with one PD95 dose of the E2 subunit vaccine, approximately four weeks before insemination. A third group of nine inseminated sows served as controls. One group of nine sows were vaccinated again at two weeks after insemination. At ten weeks after the primary vaccination, approximately six weeks after insemination, all 27 sows were challenged intranasally with 10(5) TCID50 of a moderate-virulent strain of CSFV, the Van Zoelen strain. The sows were euthanized at five weeks after challenge, and samples from the sows and fetuses were collected for detection of CSFV. All 27 sows were in gestation at the time of slaughter, CSFV was detected in the fetuses of all unvaccinated sows but it was not detected in any of the samples collected from fetuses of the double-vaccinated sows. Virus was however recovered from the fetuses of one out of nine sows vaccinated once. All the sows, except four double-vaccinated sows, developed CSFV Erns antibodies. Transplacental transmission of CSFV was reduced significantly (p <0.001) in all vaccinated sows. When the results from the experiment were extrapolated to a herd level, it could be concluded that, with 95% certainty, approximately 11% (single vaccination) or 0% (double vaccination), confidence intervals of 0.01-0.44 and 0.0-0.30 respectively, of the pregnant sows would still not be protected against vertical transmission of moderate-virulent CSFV. We conclude that vaccination with the CSFV E2 subunit vaccine can reduce the transmission of moderate-virulent strain of CSFV from the sow to its offspring significantly.     

Pathogenesis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in mid-gestation sows and fetuses.

Two experiments were undertaken to evaluate whether porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus was able to cross the placenta and infect midgestation fetuses following intranasal inoculation of sows and whether PRRS virus directly infected fetuses following in utero inoculation. In experiment 1, eight sows between 45 and 50 days of gestation were intranasally inoculated with PRRS virus (ATCC VR-2332), and four control sows were inoculated with uninfected cell culture lysate. Virus inoculated sows were viremic on postinoculation (PI) days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, shed virus in their feces and nasal secretions, and became leukopenic. Sixty-nine of 71 fetuses from principal sows euthanized on PI day 7, 14 or 21 were alive at necropsy and no virus was isolated from any of the fetuses. Two principal sows that farrowed 65 and 67 days PI delivered 25 live piglets and three stillborn fetuses. The PRRS virus was isolated from two live piglets in one litter. In experiment 2, laparotomies were performed on five sows between 40 and 45 days of gestation and fetuses were inoculated in utero with either PRRS virus alone, PRRS virus plus a swine serum containing PRRS antibodies, or uninfected cell culture lysate. Three sows were euthanized on PI day 4 and two sows on PI day 11. Viral replication occurred in fetuses inoculated with virus alone and was enhanced in fetuses inoculated with virus plus antibody. No virus was isolated from control fetuses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Experimental in utero inoculation of late-term swine fetuses with porcine circovirus type 2.

All 37 fetuses of 3 laparotomized pregnant sows at 86, 92, and 93 days of gestation were inoculated intramuscularly through the uterine wall with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2). The sows were allowed to farrow, and blood and tissue samples were collected from their piglets before and after suckling colostrum. Thirteen fetuses from 2 sows at 90 and 103 days of gestation were used as controls. Of the 37 PCV-2 inoculated fetuses, 24 were grossly normal and 13 were mummified, stillborn, or weak-born at farrowing. Infection with PCV-2 was demonstrated in various tissues of grossly normal and abnormal fetuses by virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemical methods. Antibodies specific to PCV-2 were also detected from the sera or thoracic fluids of abnormal fetuses and unsuckled normal pigs. No evidence of PCV-2 infection was found in any control fetuses. The present results confirm previous findings that PCV-2 can infect late-term swine fetuses and may cause reproductive abnormalities.     

Transplacental infection of porcine fetuses following experimental challenge inoculation with encephalomyocarditis virus.

Ten multiparous sows were inoculated between 46 and 50 days of gestation with a fetal swine isolate of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) to investigate the ability of the virus to cause transplacental infection and fetal death. Four sows (group 1) were inoculated IM with EMCV MN-25 that had been passaged 4 times on baby hamster kidney-21 line cell monolayers. Two sows were euthanatized at postinoculation (PI) day 23, and the other 2 sows at PI day 44. An additional 6 sows (group 2) were inoculated IM with the same virus that had been passaged 5 additional times in pigs. Two sows were euthanatized at 14 days, and the remaining 4 sows at PI day 28. Clinical signs were not observed in any of the sows, whereas all sows seroconverted to EMCV. In group 1, only 2 of 50 fetuses were mummified. Virus was not recovered, although EMCV antibodies were detected in the 2 mummified fetuses. In group 2, the 2 sows that were euthanatized at PI day 14 had 26 normal fetuses and there was no evidence of fetal infection. However, in the 4 sows euthanatized at PI day 28, 20 of 48 fetuses were mummified, hemorrhagic, or edematous. Encephalomyocarditis virus was recovered from 21 of 48 fetuses. Transplacental infection and fetal deaths in pregnant sows was achieved following infection with EMCV passaged in pigs.     

猪场母猪与仔猪猪圆环病毒2型感染情况调查

为了解目前母猪和仔猪猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)感染情况,本试验对来自于15个猪场的85份母猪血清和29个猪场的55份仔猪可疑病料(脾脏、淋巴结、肾脏等),分别采用间接ELISA和PCR法进行PCV2抗体和病毒核酸检测。结果显示,在15个猪场中,1个猪场母猪抗体呈阴性,其他14个猪场母猪抗体均呈阳性,猪场PCV2阳性检出场为93.3%(14/15),85份母猪血清抗体总阳性率为75.3%(64/85)。29个猪场的仔猪,PCV2核酸检测阳性猪场为19个,猪场阳性率为65.5%(19/29),55份仔猪可疑病料病毒核酸检测总阳性率61.8%(34/55)。可见,母猪和仔猪感染PCV2相当普遍。对母猪群PCV2抗体阳性率及其仔猪群病毒核酸阳性率进行比较发现,母猪群PCV2抗体阳性率越高其仔猪群病毒核酸阳性率却越低。     

Evidence of shedding of porcine circovirus type 2 in milk from experimentally infected sows

Detection of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) was to evaluate the milk from experimentally infected sows using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and virus isolation. Six pregnant sows were inoculated intranasally with PCV2 at 93 days of gestation, and milk samples were collected from all sows at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27 days of lactation. PCV2 was detected in milk as early as day 1 of lactation in all six sows. Thereafter, all infected sows remained positive by PCR for PCV2 in milk until 27 days of lactation. In addition, PCV2 itself was isolated from milk collected from a virus-infected sows. These results suggest that PCV2 may be shed in milk following infection of pregnant sows by the virus.     

Upper respiratory infection of lactating sows with transmissible gastroenteritis virus following contact exposure to infected piglets.

Ten breeding sows were left in direct contact with their newborn piglets that had been experimentally infected with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus. All sows became infected with the virus. The sows developed fever and showed mild clinical signs of the disease for a few days. The sows excreted virus in the nasal secretion, feces, and milk during the acute febrile phase of illness. Virus was isolated from the nasal secretion of one sow as early as 20 hours after contact exposure to the infected piglets. At necropsy, the virus was more frequently isolated from the tissues of the upper respiratory tract than from small intestines; this finding indicated that the TGE coronavirus replicated in the upper respiratory tract and induced an acute respiratory infection in susceptible adult swine. Neutralizing antibody was present in the sera 8 sows after 12 to 36 days during the convalescent period. From these results, we conclude that susceptible sows in direct contact with ill piglets can become infected and by excreting virus can serve as a source of TGE virus for other susceptible pigs on the premises.     

Changes in fetal and maternal blood at the end of pregnancy and during parturition in the pig

Fetal and maternal blood gas tensions, pH, packed cell volume and glucose, fructose and lactic acid concentrations were monitored during the last two days of gestation, during parturition and and the first hour after birth. Blood samples were taken by means of indwelling catheters (implanted seven to 14 days before parturition) from 12 fetuses in seven sows. All fetuses were liveborn at a mean gestational age of 113.1 days. The significant finding was that all variables in fetal blood were stable during labour and, although mild hypercapnia was present during the last three hours, no significant changes in mean values were seen until those of samples taken within 15 minutes of birth. In some fetuses, no changes were seen until after birth, while in others pH and pO2 values declined during the last hour of fetal life. Immediately after birth a rapid increase in pO2 and decrease in pCO2 followed the onset of respiration. Blood pH fell during the first 30 minutes after birth and this fall was accompanied by increasing blood lactic acid concentrations. Blood glucose concentrations rose rapidly in the first 15 minutes after birth and were maintained during the first hour despite separation of the piglets from the sow. There was a transient, but significant, increase in packed cell volume during the period from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after birth. Maternal values for all variables measured remained virtually unchanged during delivery.     

Studies of transplacental and perinatal infection with two clones of a single Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus isolate

The effect of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) infection in the last third of gestation was studied using two clones from an ADV isolate. Twelve sows were infected with one or other clone at 85 +/- 1 days of gestation. The dose of infection was 5 X 10(6) TCID50 per sow. The clinical and serological responses to the infection were different. One clone, Ls-1, produces a severe and acute illness. The course of the disease went from 9 to 14 days while the other clone, Ls-2, caused a mild or silent infection and for a shorter time. Transplacental infection occurred in only one sow which had been infected with Ls-2. The litter consisted of 8 mummified fetuses. Sows infected with Ls-1 produced piglets or mummified fetuses that were virus-negative. Perinatal infection was found in litters from both groups. Colostrum-deprived piglets that did not have postpartum contact with the sow, produced specific antibodies, 2 out of 6 born to sows infected with Ls-1 and 1 out of 4 born to sows infected with Ls-2. The antibody titers in colostrum-fed piglets were related to the extent of clinical response of the sows to the infection. Litters born to sows infected with Ls-1 had mean SNT titers from 1/12 to 1/112 while litters born to sows infected with Ls-2 showed titers of 1/2 or less than 2.     

Abortion in sows experimentally infected with African swine fever virus: pathogenesis studies

Thirteen sows that were 38 to 92 days pregnant were experimentally infected with an African swine fever (ASF) virus strain of low virulence (Dominican Republic isolate). Seven of 11 sows that were not killed had aborted. The pathogenesis of the abortions was studied, using virus isolation, tissue immunofluoresence, and histopathologic techniques. African swine fever virus was recovered from 179 of 1,329 (13.5%) fetal tissues tested. The 3 fetal tissues most frequently yielding virus were the fetal placenta, amniotic fluid, and fetal heart blood. Virus was not recovered from fetal tissues obtained from 2 of the aborting sows. Direct immunofluorescent microscopy for ASF viral antigen was done on approximately 1,175 fetal tissues. Although brightly fluorescing cells were common in maternal tissues, specific immunofluorescence was present in only placental tissues from 2 sows. Microscopic lesions in fetal tissues were inconsistent and included mild focal placentitis, mild heptic degeneration and necrosis, and mild interstitial pneumonia. These changes were not considered to be sufficiently specific to have diagnostic significance. In marked contrast to these changes in the fetal tissues, maternal tissues had high titers of virus, with marked necrosis of lymphoid tissues, and contained many cells with ASF viral antigen. We conclude that specific diagnosis of abortion resulting from ASF infection should, therefore, be based on examination of maternal tissues, rather than fetal tissues. The pregnancy failure seems to result from the effects of the virus infection on the dam more so than from direct viral damage to the placenta or fetus.     

Experimental reproduction of swine infertility and respiratory syndrome in pregnant sows.

The purpose of this study was to experimentally reproduce swine infertility and respiratory syndrome (SIRS). Six multiparous sows were intranasally inoculated at 93 days of gestation with lung homogenates from clinically affected pigs, and 3 additional sows were similarly inoculated with a virus isolated in cell culture from the lung homogenate (SIRS virus, isolate ATCC VR-2332). Inoculated sows developed transient anorexia, farrowed up to 7 days prematurely, and delivered a mean of 5.8 live pigs and 6.0 dead fetuses/litter. Clinical signs of disease were not observed in 3 sham-inoculated control sows that delivered a mean of 12.7 live pigs and 0.3 stillborn fetuses/litter. The SIRS virus was isolated from 50 of 76 live-born and stillborn fetuses from the 9 infected litters. Virus was not isolated from 26 autolyzed fetuses or 15 control pigs. Six of 9 inoculated sows developed neutralizing antibodies to SIRS virus. The reproductive effects found in these experiments were identical to those found in field cases. On the basis of our findings, virus isolate ATCC VR-2332 causes the reproductive failure associated with SIRS.     

规模化猪场猪圆环病毒2型感染的实验室诊断

为了确诊贵州省某规模化猪场保育仔猪异常死亡原因,从怀孕母猪、产房母猪、后备母猪、种公猪、哺乳仔猪、保育仔猪6个猪群采集90份血清样本采用ELISA方法分别进行血清抗体检测,并对采集的90份血清样本和1份病死猪淋巴结组织采用荧光PCR方法进行病原学检测。结果:6个猪群综合的猪瘟病毒、猪蓝耳病病毒、伪狂犬病病毒g B蛋白、伪狂犬病病毒g E蛋白血清抗体阳性率分别为87.78%、70.00%、88.89%、4.44%;猪瘟病毒、猪蓝耳病病毒、伪狂犬病病毒病原核酸检测显示阴性,猪圆环病毒2型病原核酸检测淋巴结组织样本显示阳性。试验结果表明,引起该猪场保育仔猪死亡的原因为猪圆环病毒2型感染。同时,怀孕母猪群出现了伪狂犬病病毒g E蛋白抗体阳性,提示怀孕母猪群可能存在猪伪狂犬病野毒感染。     

Efficacy of fenbendazole against the swine kidney worm Stephanurus dentatus

Fenbendazole in ground feed was fed on 3 successive days at the rate of 3 mg/kg of body weight to 15 sows naturally infected with kidney worm (Stephanurus dentatus). Fifteen similar sows were used as nontreated controls. A total of 49 kidney worms were recovered from daily urine samples collected from 10 of the 15 treated sows within 5 days after the 3rd dose of treatment. One control sow passed 10 kidney worms on the 2nd and 3rd days. Urine samples from treated sows became negative for kidney worm eggs by the 5th to 12th posttreatment days, except for urine samples from 1 sow that contained a few eggs on the 12th day and another sow that contained a few eggs on the 19th and 33rd posttreatment days. Urine samples from control sows contained approximately the same number of kidney worm eggs in the posttreatment period as earlier. Compared with that in control sows, the hatchability of the parasite eggs from treated sows was greatly reduced. Kidney worms were not recovered at necropsy from the treated sows and a total of 860 kidney worms were recovered from the control sows (57 av).     

Correlated changes in reproductive components accompanying 10 generations of selection for improved sow productivity index.

Reproductive components were compared between a line of sows selected (S) for improved sow productivity index (SPI = 6.5 x number born alive + adjusted 21-d litter weight) and sows from an unselected control (C) line. Generation 9 and 10, second-parity, Landrace sows were chosen from both the S (n = 35) and C (n = 33) line. Sows were slaughtered at a commercial slaughter plant at approximately 75 d of gestation and their reproductive tracts were recovered. Reproductive tracts were evaluated for uterine weight (UTWT), uterine horn length (UTLN), ovulation rate (OR), number of fully formed fetuses (NF), number of mummified fetuses (NM), percentage of fetal survival (FS = NF/OR), fetal space (FSPACE = UTLN/[NF + NM]), and fetal position, sex, and weight. Select-line sows had greater NF (P less than .10) and higher FS (P less than .10) than C-line sows. Select-line sows had longer (P less than .05), and heavier (P less than .01) uteri than C-line sows. However, uterine length adjusted for NF was not different between the two lines. Uterine weight adjusted for NF was greater in S-line sows (P less than .05). Select-line sows had greater total fetal weight (TFWT) (P less than .05) than did C-line sows. Female fetuses positioned between two male fetuses were lighter in weight than all other female fetuses (P less than .01). Male fetuses positioned between two female fetuses did not differ in weight from all other male fetuses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fecal estrone sulfate profile of a sow showing abnormal pregnancy with fetal mummification

Fecal and plasma E1S of a sow with mummified fetuses, was compared with normal delivery cases. Fecal and plasma fluctuation patterns in E1S were similar. In the sow with fetal mummification both fecal and plasma E1S concentration rapidly decreased after day 80-90 compared to normal farrowing sows. This coincided with the estimated time of fetal death.