Novel disease syndrome in pigs in Europe
Published 21 August 2026
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At a glance
- Disease: A novel disease syndrome in pigs associated with a new parvovirus variant
- Key clinical features: Eyes bulge and point in different directions; skin may be red, wrinkly and there may be hair loss; some pigs have poor growth and respiratory signs
- Age affected: Mainly young pigs from 2 to 10 weeks of age
- Countries describing cases to date: Netherlands and Denmark
- GB status: No cases currently described
- Human health risk: No zoonotic concern based on current evidence
- Action for vets: Contact your local APHA VIC or surveillance pathology provider if you see these (or similar) signs, to discuss an APHA-supported investigation
Background
Novel disease syndrome in pigs in Netherlands and Denmark associated with a parvovirus variant. Vets attending pigs are asked to look out for a new disease syndrome which has been seen on a number of pig farms in the Netherlands and also on a single breeding farm in Denmark.
Clinical presentation
Clinical signs:
- bilateral exophthalmos (bulging eyes)
- strabismus (eyes pointing in different directions)
- generalised skin reddening
- wrinkled skin
- alopecia (hair loss)
- poor and uneven growth
- respiratory signs
Disease characteristics:
- age of pigs affected – mainly 2 to 10 weeks
- morbidity – variable but can affect up to 80% of pigs in 50% of the litters at the same time
- mortality – deaths directly due to the syndrome are low
- duration of time that clinical signs persist in a herd – 3 to 6 months (average 4)
Current knowledge
What is known
The syndrome is characterised by a combination of bilateral exophthalmos (bulging eyes), generalised skin reddening, reduced growth and hair loss. In some pigs, there is also wrinkled skin, thickened neck, apparent strabismus (eyes appearing to point in different directions), impaired growth and respiratory signs (hyperpnoea, tongue protrusion). Signs can affect up to 80% of pigs in 50% of the litters at the same time, but morbidity may be lower than this. Direct mortality tends to be low.
The syndrome mainly affects young piglets from around 2 to 10 weeks of age. Gilts and finishers have also been seen to have bulging eyes. Outbreaks have lasted an average of 4 months (range 3 to 6 months). Consequences can include peri-weaning diarrhoea or greasy pig disease; batches become uneven with poorer quality finishers. No common or specific risk factors have yet been identified to trigger the disease.
A new parvovirus (PV) variant has been detected in high amounts in tissues from all affected pigs tested to date in both countries, and not in healthy pigs. This new PV variant differs from known porcine PVs. It is most closely related to a PV that has been detected in faeces and spleen samples from foxes in the Netherlands, Croatia and Denmark.
What remains uncertain
It is not known how or when the virus was introduced into pigs in the Netherlands or Denmark. No disease was associated with the virus in the foxes in which it was detected and its pathogenic role in wildlife remains uncertain. A definitive causal relationship between the new PV variant and this disease syndrome in pigs has not yet been established; further epidemiological studies and experimental trials are needed to confirm its role. In the meantime, pig keepers and vets in Europe are being alerted to the clinical signs described and encouraged to investigate any suspected cases, to identify cases beyond the Netherlands and Denmark.
Risk to pigs in Great Britain
This syndrome is not known to have occurred in pigs in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and, to date, there is no information to know if the novel PV described occurs in pigs, foxes or other wildlife in Great Britain. Live pigs and pig semen can be imported into Great Britain from authorised EU countries or territories, subject to the applicable animal health requirements and certification. However, very little is known at present about risk factors, transmission and risk pathways.
No human illness, or concerns about human illness or food safety, are described in relation to the new PV variant in the Netherlands or Denmark. There is also no zoonotic concern in relation to endemic porcine PV present in Great Britain pigs. Commercial vaccines for endemic porcine PV are not expected to provide immunity for the new PV variant.
Surveillance for cases
APHA encourages vets who see pigs in England and Wales with clinical signs resembling this disease syndrome to contact their nearest APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre or surveillance pathology partner to discuss the case with the duty vet.
If there is close similarity to the clinical features described in the Netherlands and Denmark, postmortem examination (PME) of a batch of three pigs will be funded by APHA, to facilitate investigation into this new disease syndrome and test for the novel PV variant. This means that there would be no charge to the submitting vet for the submission.
Images and videos of affected pigs will greatly assist discussions of ‘suspect cases’. Where there is not enough evidence at the time of triage to suspect this new syndrome, diagnostic submissions can be accepted on a chargeable basis as usual.
Criteria for suspecting cases
As indicated above, the key clinical features seen in multiple pigs are bilateral exophthalmos (bulging eyes), strabismus (eyes point in different directions), generalised skin reddening, skin wrinkling and alopecia, and reduced growth. Some pigs show respiratory signs. The first two clinical signs are unusual and striking, and their occurrence in multiple pigs with some description of skin pathology is likely to qualify a case as a suspect for investigation. It is most likely that affected pigs for submission will be sucking piglets or weaners, but age is not a criterion for submission if the key clinical signs are present in other ages of pig.