Estimation of seroprevalence of encephalomyocarditis in Dutch sow herds using the virus neutralization test

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) has been found on pig farms worldwide and can cause myocarditis in young pigs and reproduction disorders in sows. So far, clinical signs of EMCV have not been reported in the Netherlands. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of EMCV infection in Dutch sow herds. A total of 277 Dutch sow herds were randomly selected, from which 3237 serum samples were collected. These samples were tested for EMCV antibodies using the virus neutralization test (VN test). The apparent prevalence of EMCV antibodies was 9.3% in the total sow population, and the apparent herd prevalence was 58.8%. An exact determination of the prevalence of EMCV infections in the Dutch sow population was not possible because the characteristics of the VN test under field circumstances were not known. However, Dutch sow herds seem to be infected with EMCV because the distribution of positive blood samples in the tested sow population was significantly different from that expected if random false-positive reactions had occurred.