Fetal Infection with Porcine Parvovirus in Herds with Reproductive Failure

During a 20 months period in 1978 and 1979 aborted, macerated and mummified fetuses as well as stillborn piglets from herds with reproductive failure were examined for evidence of infection with porcine parvovirus (PPV). A total of 602 cases were examined and evidence of infection with PPV was found in 269 (45 %). In 52 % of these antibody to PPV was found. Infective PPV as well as antibody to PPV were found in 41 %, whereas infective PPV alone was found in 7 %. When abortions were excluded from the results a high prevalence of infection with PPV (73–90 %) was found among fetuses of all sizes with the exception of fetuses dead late in gestation or at term.