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This article was published in 1955
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
"Trembling" in New Born Pigs
G. CHARLES. B.V.Sc., Inspector of Stock, Forbes.
A local pig farmer reported that he had at his piggery some "dancing" pigs, which were creating considerable interest among pig farmers, none of whom had seen such a condition before. Having read of "trembling" or "shivers" in young pigs, but not having seen the condition, a visit was made to the piggery.
The pigs affected were 6 of a litter of 10 Large White suckers, about two days old when seen. It is not known whether the condition was present at birth or commenced soon after. Hygiene in the piggery was poor, as was the shelter in the sty and the sow had farrowed on scanty bedding on a very cold night. Symptoms varied in intensity from a continual nodding of the head through trembling to a constant rapid convulsive movement of head and legs in the worst cases. The flexor muscles showed rapid, powerful twitchings, about 80 to 100 per minute, giving rise to peculiar dancing or jigging movement, quite uncontrollable. The more pronounced cases were unable to stand still and the condition was exacerbated if the pigs were disturbed, so much so that the suckers were almost thrown to the ground. Naturally, they experienced considerable difficulty in suckling, but drank readily if held to the teat, and when replete would lie down and sleep. When asleep the involuntary movements would cease, apart from an occasional limb movement.
As there was no recorded treatment and reports indicated that the suckers would grow out of the condition the owner was advised to do nothing beyond ensuring that the affected pigs took their milk. This was done and when the suckers were four weeks old the movements had disappeared almost entirely, save for an occasional twitch which also disappeared within the next 14 days. The suckers grew normally and were sold in due course. The sow has had a further litter but there was no recurrence of the condition. By this time the general conditions at the piggery were much improved under a change of management.
The etiology of the condition is completely obscure. Payen & Fournier (1934) concluded that the condition was hereditary. Hindmarsh (1937) reviewed some of the literature on the subject and reported on two cases seen, but concludes that it is impossible to postulate a cause without extensive investigations. Hutyra & Marek (1926) states that the condition at times appears hereditary, but that the role played by external conditions, as a causative agent, cannot be overlooked and report an enzootic spread of the condition in pigs kept in cold sties and exposed to cold winds. They also state that recovery occurs at the age of 6 to 8 weeks, which appears to be in keeping with this case.
Despite a fairly high pig population in this District, no pig owner had seen the condition prior to this case, and as it had not been encountered previously in almost 18 years experience covering a number of Districts, this case is recorded as being sufficiently rare to be of interest.
REFERENCES:
Payen B. & Fournier P. (1934)-Rec. Med. Ver. 110:84.
Hindmarsh W.L. (1937)-Aust. ver. J. 13:249.
Hutyra F. & Marek J.-"Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases of Domestic Animals". Bailliere, Tindal & Cox: London.