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Background: Porcine teschovirus (PTV) circulates among wild and domesticated pig populations without causing clinical disease, however neuroinvasive strains have caused high morbidity and mortality in the past. In recent years, several reports appeared with viral agents as a cause for neurologic signs in weanling and growing pigs among which PTV and new strains of PTV were described., Case Presentation: On two unrelated pig farms in the Netherlands the weanling pig population showed a staggering gate, which developed progressively to paresis or paralysis of the hind legs with a morbidity up to 5%. After necropsy we diagnosed a non-suppurative encephalomyelitis on both farms, which was most consistent with a viral infection. PTV was detected within the central nervous system by qPCR. From both farms PTV full-length genomes were sequenced, which clustered closely with PTV-3 (98%) or PTV-11 (85%). Other common swine viruses were excluded by qPCR and sequencing of the virus., Conclusion: Our results show that new neuroinvasive PTV strains still emerge in pigs in the Netherlands. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of PTV and other viral agents causing encephalomyelitis within wild and domestic pig populations supported by the awareness of veterinarians.

The presence of toxins or infectious agents combined with environmental factors in combination with a susceptible host can be the cause for neurological disease in groups of horses. During a 5 year observational period outbreaks of neurological diseases among horses were evaluated. Causes of occurring neurological diseases were equine botulism, lolitrem intoxications, equine herpesvirus type 1-associated myelo(encephalo)pathy, and encephalitis caused by (disseminated) Streptococcus equi subspecies equi infection. This article focuses on the first three syndromes because of their predominant influence on locomotion. The pathogenesis of each disease is presented, followed by a description of a general presentation of the diseases as encountered under Dutch circumstances.

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) was diagnosed in a Dutch Warmblood gelding a few months after its export to the United States. The horse came back and was treated here. Additionally, an overview of the disease complex 'EPM' is given. Mode of infection, diagnosis of disease and its differential diagnoses, and general therapeutic options are presented. Although EPM due to infection with Sarcocystis neurona in Europe seems restricted to those horses that return or are imported from North America, the possibility of future cases of EPM caused by an infection with Neospora spp. is briefly discussed.

In a relatively large flock of dairy goats, a few goats suffered from arthritis. Serological investigation revealed the presence of antibodies to lentiviruses, which prompted pathological and virological investigation of two goats. The clinical and pathological picture showed strong resemblance with the descriptions of caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE). The virus that was subsequently isolated yielded a cytopathological effect characteristic of lentiviruses. Molecular analysis of the antibody response of both goats by means of the Western blotting technique revealed a close antigenic relationship with known CAE-virus isolates. On the basis of these results, the first diagnosis of CAE in the Netherlands was made.

CAE is a recently discovered virus infection of goats characterised by chronic arthritis, leukoencephalomyelitis, interstitial pneumonia and indurative mastitis. This disease complex is caused by a persistent infection with a lentivirus which is genetically and antigenetically related to ovine maedi-visna virus. The pathological changes and the pathogenesis of both virus infections bear strong resemblance. This also applies for the epidemiology. Information on CAE with relevance for the field is presented. Serological investigations show the infection to be present in the Netherlands and the possible implications for the Dutch goat industry are discussed. Control is feasible and the necessary organisation and techniques are available. Ample experience has been obtained with a similar subject; maedi-visna control in sheep.