Abstract

Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease of swine which can run an acute, sub acute, chronic, atypical or inapparant course. In Kerala, the disease was first reported in pigs from Muttil in Wayanad district of North Kerala in 2006 (Ravishankar et al., 2007). It is caused by CSF virus, a member of the genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae,and is closely related antigenically and structurally to bovine viral diarrhea virus and border disease virus.

After the first report of the disease in the state, there have been further outbreaks/cases of the disease in many parts of North Kerala. This communication deals with the summary of data on the occurrence of CSF in North Kerala during the period from March 2006 to August 2010 compiled on the basis of the results of tests conducted on CSF suspected samples received in the

Department of Veterinary Microbiology during the period.A  t o t a l  o f  5 0 s a m p l e s ( w h o l e blood/spleen/mesenteric lymph node/intestine) from CSF suspected cases were received in the department for diagnosis. The samples were subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction* (RT-PCR) for detection of viral nuclei acid and/or antigen capture ELISA for detection of CSF virions. The year wise split up of the samples and the results are given  

Out of the 50 samples tested during the period, nine (18 per cent) were positive for CSF. Of the nine samples, 7 were positive by RT-PCR; five by ELISA and three by both the tests.(*For samples received from March 2006 to May 2009; RT-PCR was done at Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. Samples received from June 2009 were screened by RT-PCR at Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookot).

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