Some epidemiology and immunopathology considerations of classical swine fever

Algunas consideraciones de epidemiología e inmunopatología de la peste porcina clásica

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease caused by RNA virus, Flaviviridae family, genus Pestivirus, known as Pestivirus C. At present its worldwide distribution is known and is the cause of great economic losses in pig production. Its only natural reservoirs are pigs and wild boar. The aim of this review is to present an update on some relevant epidemiological and immunopathological aspects of CSF. CSF is a notifiable disease for Colombia and persistently infected animals are the key to its spread and endemicity. CSF virus infection is characterized by disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia, and immunosuppression, depending on severity due to the virulence of the different strains. The virus has affinity for monocytes/macrophages and vascular endothelial cells where it has the ability to induce different cellular mechanisms that allow it to proliferate and persist in the animal, such as: oxidative stress by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species that generates a decrease of the bioavailability of nitric oxide; mitochondrial fission that allows cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis; and immunosuppression due to the depletion of T and B lymphocytes created by pyroptosis as a function of gasdermin-D in peripheral lymphoid organs that reduces the humoral and cellular immune response. The immunopathological understanding from the molecular explanation in CSF is important in the conceptual contribution of the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies that allow to control/eradicate this disease.