British pig vets have been placed on alert for a mysterious disease affecting young pigs in the Netherlands and Denmark, although no cases have been detected in Great Britain.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has issued an emerging disease alert after a previously unreported syndrome was identified on a number of Dutch pig farms and at a breeding unit in Denmark.
Scientists investigating the outbreaks have linked the condition to a newly identified variant of porcine parvovirus, but have not yet confirmed whether the virus is the direct cause of the disease.
Affected pigs, mainly between two and 10 weeks old, have shown unusual clinical signs including bulging eyes, abnormal eye alignment, reddened and wrinkled skin, hair loss, respiratory problems and poor growth.
The most distinctive features are exophthalmos, where the eyes protrude noticeably, and strabismus, an abnormal alignment of the eyes.
APHA said vets should be particularly alert when these unusual eye abnormalities occur alongside skin changes in multiple animals.
Disease levels within affected groups have been significant. In some outbreaks, up to 80% of pigs in around half of litters were affected at the same time. However, mortality has remained relatively low and most pigs have recovered.
Outbreaks have typically lasted between three and six months, with an average duration of four months.
Additional problems reported on affected farms include peri-weaning diarrhoea, greasy pig disease and uneven growth rates, creating challenges for finishing pig performance.
Investigations in both countries have consistently found high levels of a previously unidentified parvovirus variant in affected animals. The same virus has not been detected in healthy pigs examined during the investigations.
Despite the link, APHA stressed that further research is required before the virus can be confirmed as the cause of the syndrome.
There is currently no evidence that the condition poses any risk to human health or food safety.
Officials also say there is insufficient information to assess the likelihood of the disease reaching British herds, and it remains unknown whether the virus is already present in pigs or wildlife in Great Britain.
Existing vaccines used against established forms of porcine parvovirus are not expected to protect against the newly identified variant.
APHA is asking vets in England and Wales who encounter similar symptoms to contact their nearest Veterinary Investigation Centre or surveillance pathology provider.
Suspect cases may qualify for APHA-funded investigations, including post-mortem examinations and laboratory testing to determine whether the novel virus variant is present.
For now, no additional disease-control measures have been recommended for British pig producers, but the agency is urging vets and farmers to remain vigilant as investigations continue.
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