A Fatal Case in Newborn Piglets with Getah Virus Infection : Pathogenicity of the Isolate

Abstract

The Kanagawa strain of Getah virus isolated from newborn piglets which died of peracute disease was examined for pathogenicity in gnotobiotic piglets. Its pathogenicity depended on the route of inoculation. Piglets inoculated intramuscularly on 5 to 18 day old exhibited anorexia, depression, tremor of whole body, red discoloration of the skin, trembling of the tongue, and incoordination of pelvic limbs 20 hrs and died or became moribund 2 to 3 days after inoculation. The virus was recovered at high titer from various organs and serum of dead and moribund piglets.