Not so pretty after all: New pestivirus that attacks the nervous system of Austrian pigs

So-called “shaking piglets” have symptoms that resemble those of the classical swine fever, with extensive damage to the brain and the spinal cord. The viral origin of the disease was clarified only recently with the discovery in Europe and the USA of an atypical porcine pestivirus. Researchers have now discovered a further new virus in shaking piglets on an Austrian farm.  The pathogenic agent, named LINDA-Virus (Lateral shaking Inducing NeuroDegenerative Agent), is related to the Australian Bungowannah virus and more distantly to the classical swine fewer virus.