Transient classical swine fever virus infection in wild boar piglets partially protected by maternal antibodies

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the clinical course of c lassical swine fever (CSF) in wild boar piglets partially protected by mate rnal antibodies. Five healthy wild boar piglets with a low serum titre of c olostral antibodies against CSF virus were challenged with virulent CSF vir us at the age of three months. Apart of reduced food intake and diarrhoea n o major clinical symptoms were noticed after challenge. These signs were se en during the second and third week of infection, afterwards the piglets re covered completely. CSF virus could be re-isolated from blood samples taken on day 12 and day 19 post challenge. From blood samples taken later on and from the organ material taken at post mortem examinations no CSF virus cou ld be isolated anymore. It can be concluded that the presence of maternal a ntibodies influences the clinical course of CSF in terms that the outcome i s rather transient than lethal. Such wild boar could play a crucial role in the spread of CSF virus and might contribute to the maintenance of long la sting epizootics.