An Outbreak of Alopecia in Newborn Piglets

In 1978, an outbreak of alopecia occurred in newborn piglets on three farms, affecting the offspring of 25 breeding sows. The piglets exhibited prolonged gestation, edema, and poor hair growth, with some born dead or too weak to survive. Autopsies revealed thyroid abnormalities and hypoplastic hair follicles. The piglets had significantly lower iodine levels compared to normal, and the sows' diet contained insufficient iodine, suggesting that iodine deficiency in the sows was the likely cause of the alopecia in the newborn piglets.