Comparative detection of classical swine fever virus in striated muscles from experimentally infected pigs by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, cell culture isolation and immunohistochemistry

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease, which can be transmitted by CSFV-contaminated swill. In 1993, four CSF outbreaks in Switzerland were caused presumably by feeding pigs with improperly heated swill. The aim of the investigations was to find a suitable method for CSFV detection in striated muscle samples of infected pigs in order to allow routine testing of meat for virus contamination. The sensitivity of virus detection in striated muscle was compared with the detection in target organs. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cell culture isolation and immunohistochemistry on samples from 14 experimentally infected pigs, CSFV was detected in target organs of ten, and in striated muscle of six pigs, respectively. Overall, only 58% of muscle samples from CSFV-positive animals were positive by RT-PCR and 40% by virus isolation in cell culture, whereas the virus was detected in target organs of these pigs. Virus detection from striated muscle was primarily successful in severely diseased animals infected with highly virulent CSFV strains. It is concluded that striated muscle is not suitable for sensitive CSFV detection, and additional organs have to be examined for reliable diagnosis.