Diagnostic potential of polymerase chain reaction in detection of classical swine fever virus infection in slaughtered pigs

The present work was carried out to study the diagnostic potential of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in detection of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection in slaughtered pigs of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh during 2005. A total of 1120 pigs were examined for CSF suggestive pathological lesions and tissue samples were tested for CSFV genome by RT-PCR. Out of 1120 cases examined, 110 (9.82%) showed lesions suggestive for CSF. Based on pathological findings, 58.18% (64/110) were categorized as acute, 16.36% (18/110) as chronic and 25.45% (28/110) as inapparent form of CSF. Based on RT-PCR targeting 5’NTR and E2/NS2 region, the prevalence of CSF was found to be 4.82% (54/1120) and 3.83% (43/1120), respectively. RT-PCR thus ensures a sensitive and specific detection of CSFV and hence can be considered as a screening method of choice.