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Abstract
Classical swine fever virus is a spherical enveloped particle of about 40-60 nm in
diameter with a single stranded RNA genome of about 12,300 bases with positive polarity,
classified as a pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae. Natural hosts are domestic
and wild pigs. The virus causes one of the most severe diseases in pigs world wide
with grave economic consequences. The clinical picture of classical swine fever is
variable, depending on the age of the affected animals and viral virulence. The virus
is well characterised and reliable laboratory diagnostic procedures are available.
In many parts of the world live attenuated vaccines are being used as a safe and efficient
prophylactic tool. However, in EU Member States and several other countries vaccination
is prohibited and CSF is controlled by a strict stamping out policy. In order to overcome
the disadvantages of conventional vaccination inactivated marker vaccines have been
developed that enable the distinction between vaccinated and infected animals. Whether
these vaccines will be accepted as an additional tool in the framework of the stamping
out policy is not yet decided.