Transmissible gastroenteritis in pigs is a viral disease that can often lead to death, especially in piglets. Humans cannot contract it.

Worldwide

Pigs; dogs, cats and foxes can become infected but do not contract the disease.

Directly from animal to animal; indirect transmission through feed containers, stable equipment, etc. is possible.

1-2 days

tremors, vomiting, severe diarrhea

There is no therapy

Prevention of the introduction of the virus into a holding

The virus (family Coronaviridae, genus Coronavirus) TGE is the Transmissible gasteroenteritis virus (TGEV, = Suid corona virus 1), related to the Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus (FIP). TGE was first described in 1946. Since then it has been observed in many countries with significant pig production.

The main host is the pig; clinically inapparent infections can occur in dogs, cats and foxes. TGE can often cause high morbidity and mortality, particularly in piglets. TGEV is primarily transmitted directly from animal to animal, usually through oral contact or aerogenically. Indirect transmission through feed containers, stable equipment, etc. or by iatrogenic means has also been demonstrated.

The incubation period is usually a maximum of 1-2 days. Newborns and suckling piglets suffer a particularly high mortality rate (almost 100 %). The first clinical symptoms in piglets are trembling, vomiting without restriction of milk intake, thirst. Soon there is severe diarrhoea with a very foul, characteristic odour. Fever is rare and short-lived. Dehydration, loss of electrolytes and acidosis lead to the death of sick animals after 3-6 days.

The severity decreases in older animals. The mortality rate is lower, but can be affected by stress, such as cold, dampness or secondary bacterial infections. Lactating sows can become ill with mild fever, agalactia and inappetence, diarrhoea and feed refusal.

A respiratory variant of TGEV, the porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), has also been known since 1986 and has spread widely in European pig herds. Due to existing cross-immunities with PRCV, the incidence of TGEV in the herds has fallen sharply. Only rarely is it still possible to detect TGEV.

Detection of TGEV:

• IF (immunofluorescence technique) of organ sections (jejunum, ileum).
• virus cultivation in cell culture
• molecular biological methods (PCR)
• detection of antibodies by serum neutralization test (SNT)
• TGE/PRCV- AK differentiation ELISA