Leptospira pomona as a cause of abortion and neonatal mortality in swine

Abstract

This paper records observations on four sows experimentally infected with Leptospira pomona, and on four other comparable uninfected sows kept under the same conditions. Four sows infected intramuscularly with a culture of L. pomona in the second half of pregnancy produced 37 piglets, 34 of which were born dead or died within a few minutes of birth. Four uninfected sows kept under similar conditions produced 35 piglets, of which six were born dead or died within a few minutes of birth. The diagnosis of porcine leptospiral abortion is discussed. It is recommended that dead piglets be examined by microscope examination of peritoneal fluid and guinea pig inoculation of tissues.