Classical swine fever

Some pigs get a very bad sickness.

It can spread very fast from pig to pig.

Sick pigs may feel very hot. They might not want to eat. Their skin can turn a dark purple color.

Some pigs may walk in an unsteady way. They might also feel very weak.

This sickness can be very dangerous. It can make young pigs die quickly.

People work hard to keep pigs safe. They watch for signs of the sickness. It is important to keep farms healthy.

Classical swine fever is a sickness for pigs. It is caused by a virus called CSFV. This virus spreads very easily between animals.

Some types of the virus are very strong. These strong types cause fast sickness. Sick pigs may have a fever. They might feel weak or sleepy. Their skin can turn a purple color. Some pigs may even die within 15 days.

Other types of the virus are less strong. These types may not show big signs. They can cause pigs to have trouble making babies. They can also cause piglets to be born with problems.

Doctors use many tests to find the virus. One test is called an ELISA. This test looks for the body's response to the virus. Another test is called RT-qPCR. This test finds the virus's genetic code.

Wild pigs can also carry the sickness. This makes it hard to stop the spread. Some places use vaccines to help. A vaccine is a way to teach the body to fight germs. People also study how the virus moves from place to place.

Classical swine fever is a very contagious disease for pigs. It is also known as hog cholera or pig plague. This sickness affects both Old World and New World pigs. The disease is caused by a virus called CSFV. This virus belongs to a group called Pestiviridae. It is closely related to viruses that affect other animals.

How the disease works depends on the type of virus. Stronger strains cause an acute form of the sickness. Sick pigs may have a fever and feel very weak. They might huddle together or lose their appetite. Some pigs show purple skin on their ears or bellies. In these bad cases, animals can die within 15 days. Other strains are less strong and cause chronic illness. These pigs might not look very sick at first. They may still have trouble having healthy piglets.

Scientists have worked hard to study this virus for a long time. Marion Dorset first developed ways to make artificial vaccines. These vaccines help protect pigs from getting sick. In the year 2000, researchers Greiser-Wilke and others used genetic typing. They used this to trace how the virus moved. This helped them study a large outbreak in Europe. They found the virus moved through shipments of piglets.

Many places in the world deal with this disease. It is common in much of Asia and South America. It is also found in parts of Europe and Africa. The United States was declared free of it in 1978. The United Kingdom thought it was gone by 1966. However, an outbreak happened in East Anglia in 2000. Other places like Australia and Canada are believed to be free.

Doctors use special tests to find the virus in animals. One test is called an ELISA. This test looks for how the animal's body reacts. Another test is called RT-qPCR. This test finds the virus's genetic code. Doctors also look at tissue under a microscope. They might see small red spots on the kidneys. This is a common sign of the sickness.

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease affecting swine. It is also known as hog cholera or pig plague. This disease is caused by the Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV). This virus belongs to the genus Orthopestivirus within the family Pestiviridae. It is closely related to other viruses like bovine viral diarrhoea. Because it spreads so easily, it is a major concern for animal health. It has even been mentioned as a potential bioweapon.

The way the disease works depends on the specific strain of the virus. Highly virulent strains cause an acute form of the sickness. In these cases, the disease moves very quickly through the animal. Pigs may experience high fever, weakness, and loss of appetite. They might also show purple discoloration on their ears, abdomen, or inner thighs. Severe cases can lead to convulsions or splenic infarctions. These animals often die within 15 days, though some can survive for 2 to 3 months.

Less virulent strains lead to different types of illness. These can cause subacute or chronic infections. These versions of the disease might be hard to detect because the signs are mild. However, they can still cause significant problems for a herd. These strains can lead to abortions or stillbirths in pregnant pigs. Low-virulence strains may also cause piglets to be born with neurologic defects, such as congenital tremors. Infected piglets born to these subclinical sows help keep the virus moving within a population.

Scientists use several methods to diagnose the presence of CSFV. One common method is the Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT). This test uses fluorescent labelled antibodies to find viral proteins in tissue. Another method is the Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay, or ELISA. A serum ELISA detects the antibody response of the host animal. An antigen ELISA looks directly for viral proteins in the serum. Researchers also use RT-qPCR to detect viral RNA. This specific test is very useful for differentiating between different strains.

History shows how difficult it is to manage this virus. Marion Dorset first developed artificial immunization procedures to help protect animals. In the year 2000, researchers Greiser-Wilke and colleagues developed direct genetic typing. They used this to trace the descendants of a large European epizootic from 1997 to 1998. Their analysis showed that the virus in Italy and Spain came from piglet shipments from the Netherlands. Managing the disease requires constant vigilance across different countries.

Many regions around the world have faced outbreaks of CSF. The disease is currently endemic in much of Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe and South America. Some areas have worked hard to be free of the virus. The United States was declared free of CSF on January 31, 1978. Canada was believed free by 1962, and Belgium by 1998. The United Kingdom thought it was eradicated by 1966, but an outbreak occurred in East Anglia in 2000. Other regions like Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand are also believed to be free.

Eradication is a complex challenge for many nations. Current programs focus on rapid detection, diagnosis, and slaughter. In some cases, emergency vaccination is used. This might involve inactivated or live vaccines. In the European Union, countries may use hunting restrictions to limit the movement of infected wild boars. The virus can be introduced to new areas through the transport of pigs or pork products. It can also be maintained in wild or feral pig populations, making it very hard to stop completely.