Classical Swine Fever

Dear Colleagues,

Classical swine fever (CSF) is an ancient disease caused by the classical swine fever virus (CSFV), one member of the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae.  Now after more than a century since its first recognition, our battle with this virus/disease is far from over.  While some parts of the world have been CSF-free, reemergence from a previous CSF-free area is not unprecedented.  In parts of the world where the disease is well-under-control, the virus/disease still lingers around, poses a potential threat, and colleagues there are striving for a CSF-free status. In those CSF-free areas, we would be interested to know what is their regular practice in order not to miss any reemerging cases in its earliest time, both clinically and by the laboratory practice.  When striving for a CSF-free status or in reemergence, we would be interested to know the view of colleagues on vaccination and what measures they take in the endeavor.  In those endemic areas, we would be interested to know how CSF is expressed clinically, how it is recognized and diagnosed, and how our colleagues handle it, particularly for the prevention.  So we have much to learn and share in the veterinary community.

Been a single virus with a single serotype, the CSFV is constantly tangled with the immunity and pressure that the hosts and the environment imposed on them. Antigenic variations are constantly being selected. Cross reactivity with other related viruses and vaccine viruses needs to be differentiated. In the meantime, newer generation DIVA vaccines are being developed.  It would be interesting to know how the virus establish itself in the animal body, how the virus signals itself to gain control or co-exist within the cells, and what are the consequences in different types of cells and cellular organelles. Over the years, CSFV may disguise and express itself with other common swine pathogens clinically, for example, those also causing fever, hemorrhages, lymphoid depletion, abortion or stillbirth etc. Under various circumstances, for example, the use of vaccines or the presence of partial or non-neutralizing immunity, they may express themselves in unusual forms that are different from those the textbook tells of, and it often requires the laboratory practices to confirm its expression.

Nowadays in the wake of other currently prevailing swine diseases, the CSF/CSFV seem raises little attention on the veterinary forum.  In spite of this, veterinarians and scientists in all corners of the world are continually working, silently and diligently, trying to gain grounds on this battle.  We would like to take this opportunity, that the MDPI Inc. creates for us, to welcome colleagues to share their experience and results, whether clinical or basic, whether low tech or high tech.

Prof. Dr. Fun-In Wang
Dr. Chia-Yi Chang
Guest Editors

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