Prevalence of Classical Swine Fever Virus in Domestic Pigs in South Korea: 1999-2011

• Published in: Transboundary and emerging diseases Vol. 60; no. 6; pp. 546 - 551
• Main Authors: Song, J. -Y., Lim, S. I., Jeoung, H. Y., Choi, E. -J., Hyun, B. -H., Kim, B., Kim, J., Shin, Y. -K., dela Pena, R. C., Kim, J. B., Joo, H., An, D. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2013; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Classical Swine Fever - epidemiology; Classical Swine Fever - prevention & control; Classical Swine Fever - virology; Classical swine fever virus; Classical swine fever virus - immunology; Classical swine fever virus - isolation & purification; Disease control; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; emerging diseases; Hogs; Prevalence; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Sus scrofa - virology; Swine; Vaccination - veterinary; vaccine; Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage; virus; Viruses; Republic of Korea; South Korea; emerging diseases; virus; vaccine
• ISSN: 1865-1674; 1865-1682
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2012.01371.x

Summary The major policy for eradication of classical swine fever (CSF) in South Korea has focused on the implementation of compulsory vaccination of the susceptible pig population. A vaccine strain of CSF virus, the LOM strain, is used to maintain high herd seroconversion, a practice complementary to the ‘stamping‐out policy’ and restriction of animal movement during disease outbreaks. To survey for the prevalence of CSF in domestic pigs in South Korea over the past 13 years (1999–2011), we tested 4 193 782 and 1 162 645 samples for antibodies and antigens, respectively. Whereas seropositivity for CSF antibodies has been maintained at over 95% in the mainland, in Jeju Island, where no‐vaccination has been administered since 1999, seroprevalence has been below 1% during the last 3 years of study (2009‐2011). The highest number of outbreaks in South Korea occurred in 2002 and 2003; since then, outbreaks have decreased each year, with the last CSF outbreak recorded in 2009. No outbreaks have occurred during the past 3 years, and a high level of herd immunity has been maintained in the mainland pig population for 8 years; therefore, South Korea could now switch to a no‐vaccination policy throughout the country. However, the constant threat of the re‐emergence of the disease in the susceptible pig population should be the main consideration in planning and carrying out the last phase of the CSF eradication process.