Classical swine fever in Europe--the current situation

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Animal Epidemiology
• Disease Control

Background:

• Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease impacting swine globally, causing substantial economic losses.
• The European Union (EU) employs a harmonized strategy for CSF diagnosis, control, and eradication, showing success through reduced outbreaks.
• Despite progress, CSF poses an ongoing risk to domestic pigs and wild boar populations across Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current epidemiological situation of CSF in Europe, with a focus on EU member states.
• To detail recent outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boar, including identified virus isolates.
• To describe ongoing CSF eradication and monitoring programs within the EU.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent CSF outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boar populations.
• Analysis of identified Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV) isolates.
• Description of current EU eradication and monitoring programs.
• Utilizing platforms like the CSF sequence database and wild boar surveillance database for information exchange.

Main Results:

• A decreasing trend in CSF outbreaks within the EU over the past decade has been observed.
• CSF continues to pose a threat, with potential for rapid spread in domestic pigs due to animal movements and trade.
• Specialized databases have been established to facilitate information exchange on CSF virus isolates and surveillance data.

Conclusions:

• Harmonized EU strategies have led to progress in CSF control, but the disease remains a persistent threat.
• Understanding virus transmission routes and introduction sources is crucial for effective eradication, aided by improved data availability.
• Continued vigilance, surveillance, and data sharing are essential to manage and ultimately eradicate Classical Swine Fever in Europe.