Author/Authors :
Andrysikova, Radka Equine Department - Section of Ophthalmology - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland , Sydler, Titus Institute of Veterinary Pathology - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland , Kümmerlen, Dolf Department for Farm Animals - Division of Swine Medicine - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland , Pendl, Wolfgang Department for Farm Animals - Division of Swine Medicine - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland , Graage, Robert Department for Farm Animals - Division of Swine Medicine - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland , Moutelikova, Romana Veterinary Research Institute, Czech Republic , Prodelalova, Jana Veterinary Research Institute, Czech Republic , Voelter, Katrin Equine Department - Section of Ophthalmology - Vetsuisse Faculty - University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Abstract :
A 17-week-old crossbred fnishing pig was presented for lameness of approximately one week. Clinical evaluation, including
ophthalmologic examination, revealed ataxia, partial faccid paresis of the pelvic limbs, skin lesions at feet and claws, and
severely reduced vision/blindness. Both eyes had multiple persistent pupillary membranes (iris-to-iris and iris-to-lens) and
hypermature cataracts. Histopathological examination of the eyes revealed microphthalmia, microphakia with cataract formation,
myovascularised membrane in the vitreous, retinal detachment, and retinal dysplasia. Microscopic examination of tissues collected
postmortem demonstrated nonsuppurative polioencephalomyelitis with the most prominent infammatory lesions in the lumbar
spinal cord. Subsequently, presumed Teschen/Talfan disease was confrmed by porcine teschovirus identifcation in the spinal
cord using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the frst case report
describing in detail histopathological changes in the porcine congenital microphthalmic syndrome.
