CSF Vaccince & Wild Boar: Epidemiology and control of classical swine fever in wild boar and potential use of a newly developed live marker

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0521

Key words (English)

Classical swine fever; hog cholera; pig; wild boar; disease control; epidemiological model; vaccination; differentiation of vaccination from infection; DIVA; marker vaccines

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 501599

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.8.1 Policy-orientated research

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Bundesamt für Veterinärwesen BVET
Institut für Viruskrankheiten u. Immunprophylaxe IVI

Abstract (English)

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a recurring pathogen of domestic pigs in Europe, maintained in wild boar reservoir and reintroduced by contacts between domestic and free-living species. About 80% of the first outbreaks of CSF have occurred in regions where CSF in wild boar is endemic. However wild boars are an indigenous species in Europe and they should be managed as a part of our natural environment. Socially, large-scale outbreaks of CSF have a disastrous economic effect (billons of Euros), and public opinion perceives mass killings of animals as unethical. Animal welfare implications of CSF outbreaks are also serious. Currently, no live vaccine that can be differentiated from infection and adapted for young pigs is available.
The objectives of the present integrated project are: (i) development of an epidemiological and economic model for CSF eradication in wild boar, (ii) adaptation of the classical C-strain oral vaccine for use in young wild boar, (iii) development of a live marker vaccine for oral administration to wild boar and development of accompanied diagnostic assays.
The expected results will be a complete package with an epidemiological tool to support wild boar management and CSF control. In addition an orally administrable live marker vaccine with accompanying discriminatory tests and sampling protocols will be developed that may come into action if preventive CSF control fails. Because CSF affects several European countries, a multinational and multidisciplinary research effort is appropriate and will contribute to realise the objectives of the priority thematic area: policy-orientated research.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0521