Investigating porcine abortions, stillbirths and mummified piglets – guidance for vets
Published 20 February 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2026
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Background
Several factors may be involved in porcine abortions and stillbirths, including:
- environment
- nutrition
- genetics
- toxic and infectious agents
Full investigation of cases requires a complete and accurate history to include:
- herd background details
- clinical signs (including those in sows)
- stage of gestation affected
- parity affected
- vaccination
- group social history
- pig management and nutrition
- examination of breeding records
Diagnostic investigation for involvement of infectious agents
To investigate the involvement of infectious agents, veterinary practitioners should examine fetuses or stillborn piglets and placentas.
For pigs on premises in England and Wales, where possible, you should submit freshly expelled whole litters, ideally with individual placentas, to an APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre or surveillance pathology partner.
Submit each litter in a separate bag or container with a completed porcine submission form.
Where possible, you should submit litters from several affected sows, especially if there are high abortion or stillbirth rates.
If you suspect notifiable disease, do not submit samples to APHA’s diagnostic service. You must report suspicion of notifiable disease to Defra Rural Services Helpline on:
- 03000 200 301 in England
- 0300 303 8268 in Wales
In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office.
If you do not suspect notifiable disease and whole fetuses or stillborn piglets and placentas cannot be submitted to an APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre or surveillance pathology partner, private veterinary practitioners can examine and collect samples from abortion or stillbirth material and submit these to APHA as detailed below.
Guidance for vets collecting and submitting samples from abortions and stillbirths
Following this guidance enables APHA to do the appropriate diagnostic testing.
If these steps are followed, the diagnostic tests mentioned will be included under the subsidised charge for abortion and stillbirth investigation (test code TC0011, one charged for each litter submitted).
You should:
- print Tables 1 and 2 in the attached PDF
- examine the whole litter and complete Table 1
- examine in detail and collect samples as per Table 2 from three piglets per litter – ideally sample one small, one medium and one large piglet, avoiding very autolysed or mummified piglets (except for heart samples for porcine parvovirus – see Table 2)
- place fresh tissues into small individual containers (e.g. 5ml bijoux) – do not pool samples
- place all fixed tissues from one piglet into one container (1:10 with formalin)
- ensure all containers are labelled to indicate sample type, litter and piglet identity
- complete one set of tables for each litter and send with the samples
- send samples with a completed porcine submission form requesting test code TC0011 – include a thorough clinical history as detailed above
- package samples according to the requirements for sending pathological material
- submit samples by post to:
APHA Starcross: APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre
Staplake Mount
Starcross
Exeter
EX6 8PE