Detection of the classical swine fever virus antigen following experimental infection

In this experiment, twelve pigs were infected by intramuscular inoculation of virulent virus strains of classical swine fever (Baker, Kansas, BAI autochthonic isolate). Three animals survived infection without any clinical symptoms and were sacrificed 60 days post infection (p.i). Nine animals developed an acute form of classical swine fever and died between 8 and 15 days p.i. Rectal temperature was monitored daily along with the clinical symptoms and usual hematological parameters. Viremia was determined by two immunoenzyme-ELISA tests (CHEKIT CSF VIRUS DR BOMMELIAG, Switzerland, and CSFV-IDEXX, USA). Pathomorphological changes were determined post mortem and tissues were examined for the presence of virus antigen by a fluorescent antibody - based test and' immunoenzyme test. In infected animals viremia occured between 3 and 5 days post infection. Virus antigens were detected in 73.03% of the examined blood samples using the Dr Bommeli test and in 56.18% using the IDEXX test. Viremia was not detected in animals that survived infection. Between day 3 and 5 p. i. leukopenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in eight infected animals. Viral •antigens were confirmed by the fluorescent antibody based test in 72.2 % of the examined tissues, by the IDEXX test in 84.4% and by the Dr Bommeli test in 100% samples