Unilateral hindleg spasticity: outbreak of a specific clinical condition in suckling piglets

A specific clinical condition of unilateral hindleg spasticity is described which affected all the piglets of 8 litters in one piggery. Histopathological examination of 3 of the piglets revealed changes involving some of the large neurons in the red nucleus, cerebellar nuclei and lumbar spinal cord. These changes were absent from 2 control piglets of the same age which were studied. The clinical and histopathological findings are discussed in relation to the possible aetiology of the condition.