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Bulletin No. 15 - Summer 2003
VirologyClassical Swine Fever
MOENNIG V, FLOEGEL-NIESMANN G, GREISER-WILKE I
Clinical signs and epidemiology of classical swine fever: a review of new knowledge
Vet Journal 2003 165: 11-20
Updated knowledge on Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is presented. CSF is a problematic disease as it is difficult to diagnose. In addition to acute, chronic and prenatal forms of CSF the condition cannot be characterised by typical, classical symptoms and should always be considered in a differential diagnosis at an early stage of an infection. The chronic form has a fatal course and transplacental infection can occur. Genetic typing has made it possible to differentiate three virus groups with three or four subgroups each. In previous European outbreaks, CSF isolates were classified as subgroup 2.1-2.3 viruses. The various causes of CSF outbreaks may be illegal swill feeding, contact with infected wild boars, or animal transport. After deciding on a ban on vaccination in the 80s to achieve a CSF free status for all EU members, several outbreaks occurred from 1988 to 1998 in Europe (Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland) and with the benefit of hindsight, the European Council is reconsidering its policy. Oral immunization of wild boars, intense monitoring of local domestic pigs and new hunting strategies are being considered in an effort to avoid epidemics. The use of marker vaccines is limited and the efficacy of discriminatory tests associated with these vaccines is yet to be demonstrated. Practical recommendations such as a ban on swill feeding, strict control of meat imported from non EU members, limited pig trade over long distances, reduced pig density, monitoring of wild boars, should help to control CSF outbreaks.
