Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly infectious disease of domestic pigs
and wild boar. Detection of CSF virus (CSFV) is quite easy while using fre
sh organ samples; difficulties arise when only autolytic biological materia
l is available. This is of great importance with reference to wild boar, as
these animals are suspected to be a reservoir of CSFV. The purpose of this
study was to investigate the possibility of CSFV detection in relation to
the post mortem period of infected pigs. Fourteen pigs, infected with a hig
hly virulent strain W of CSFV, were used in this study. A wide range of org
an (spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, kidney) and meat samples were taken from
dead or killed animals and then kept in a cold store at 8 degreesC. The sam
ples were tested for CSFV by means of virus isolation, antigen ELISA and RT
nested PCR after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of storage. Virus isolation seems
to be the least sensitive method for detecting CSFV from this material. On
ly spleen samples, taken from 3 animals and kept for a maximum of 14 days i
n the cold store, were CSFV positive. Antigen ELISA gave much better result
s, especially when spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils samples were taken, resu
lting in positives up to 28 days. Meat samples tested by antigen ELISA gave
inconclusive results. Therefore those samples were evaluated as unsuitable
for CSFV detection. As expected, the best detection method was RT nested P
CR, This resulted in the detection of CSFV up to 28 days from both organ an
d meat samples from the cold store.
In conclusion, the antigen ELISA seems to be only sensitive enough to detec
t CSFV in organ samples. RT nested PCR should be the method of choice to te
st autolysed organ and meat samples for CSFV.