Classical Swine Fever
Classical Swine Fever
Situation in Austria
Austria has been free of classical swine fever in domestic pigs since 1997 and free of classical swine fever in feral pigs since April 2003. There is an official, risk-based monitoring programme in which several thousand samples are tested for the classical swine fever virus and antibodies every year.
Technical information
Classical swine fever is a highly infectious systemic disease. The disease is caused by a virus (KSPV, CSFV) of the genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae. CSF has been recognised as an infectious disease since 1933 (Ohio, USA) and is found worldwide, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand. Only animals of the family Suidae (true pigs or Old World pigs) and the closely related peccaries are susceptible to classical swine fever. There are no known cases of human infection.
The KSPV is transmitted through direct (animal-to-animal) and indirect contact (e.g. shoes, clothing, tools, transport vehicles). Virus shedders and virus-contaminated slaughter and meat products are the most significant factors in the outbreak of CSF. Virus shedding can begin as early as one day after infection in saliva and secretions from the nose, eyes and throat. Shedding via urine and faeces begins later. Severely affected animals shed the CSF virus until death or for up to approximately one month after recovery. Chronically ill pigs and stunted piglets shed the virus for up to half a year. The virus is taken up via the digestive tract, and less commonly via the conjunctiva or the nasal mucosa.
The incubation period for CSF is 2–14 days, usually 3–7 days in acute cases. In piglets infected in utero, months may pass before the onset of the disease.
Symptoms
The clinical course of CSF depends on a number of factors (age, type of livestock, viral virulence, infectious dose). Congenital infections with the CSF virus manifest as weakness, ‘shaking piglets’, stunted growth with dermatitis, leucopenia and lack of coordination.
Three clinical forms are distinguished:
- acute form (classical form)
- chronic form
- atypical form
The acute form manifests as a high fever (40–41 °C), general malaise, lethargy, anorexia, hind-limb weakness, tremors (‘shaky piglets’), oedema (eyes), purulent nasal/ocular discharge, diphtheroid coatings in the mouth/on the tongue, erythema, initially constipation followed by diarrhoea, and convulsions. The mortality rate varies between 30% and 100%.
The chronic form is characterised by loss of appetite, emaciation and frequent alternation between diarrhoea and constipation. The mortality rate is significantly lower than in the acute form.
The atypical form has a mild and protracted course; uncontrollable diarrhoea, stunted growth and CNS disorders are typical symptoms.
Classical swine fever (CSF) is a notifiable animal disease. Control measures for CSF are based on
a) preventing the introduction and spread of the pathogen, and
b) the culling of infected and suspected animals. Prophylactic vaccination is prohibited in all EU Member States, with the exception of Romania.
Diagnostics
The following are suitable as sample material:
- Whole blood, blood serum or EDTA-anticoagulated blood
- Organs (particularly the spleen, liver, kidneys, lymph nodes and tonsils)
KSPV can be detected in the above materials using the following methods:
- PCR (serum, EDTA-anticoagulated blood, organs)
- Virus isolation (serum, organs) – rarely used in routine practice
- ELISA (serum)
- Serum neutralisation test (serum) – is primarily used to verify occasional non-specific ELISA test results
In all cases, samples should ideally be dispatched to the laboratory by an authorised logistics company, with the addition of coolants and in compliance with the relevant transport regulations (UN3373)
Contact
Institut für veterinärmedizinische Untersuchungen Mödling
- vetmed.moedling@ages.at
- +43 50 555 38112
-
Robert Koch-Gasse 17
2340 Mödling
Last updated: 23.06.2026
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