Swine vesicular disease

The Swine vesicular disease (syn. vesicular disease of swine vesicular disease suum ) is a viral disease of pigs. Receptive besides pigs and humans, so that the disease is classified as a zoonosis. In pigs it is expressed under the formation of bubbles on the head and claws, in humans it can cause aseptic meningitis.

The Swine vesicular disease is a notifiable disease. The disease was first observed in 1966 in Italy and joined since then in several European and Asian countries. The recent outbreaks in Europe in 1998 and 2,000 in Italy. In Germany the disease is most recently occurred in 1985.

Pathogens and pathogenesis

The pathogen is the swine vesicular disease virus ( SVDV ) ( genus enterovirus, family Picornaviridae ), which is divided into various strains due to differences in the antigens. The SVDV is closely related to the human coxsackie B-5 virus. It is likely emerged therefrom by point mutation. The virus is 30 to 32 nm in size and its genome consists of a single-stranded RNA.

The virus is extremely stable, it can tolerate a pH range of 2 to 12.5. In feces, the virus can remain infectious for about 140 days. Salting, smoking, freezing and salting do not inactivate the virus. At a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius, but it is rapidly inactivated.

Transmission is by direct contact with the virus. Several outbreaks have been caused by insufficient feeding of heated kitchen waste with pork.

After the infection, it is local replication of the virus at the portal of entry and the regional lymph nodes. The subsequent first viremia runs clinically normal and leads to a further colonization of internal organs. Subsequently, a second viremic phase can be detected by the virus in all the organs is carried out. With the formation of neutralizing antibodies, the number of viruses decreases the 5th day after infection again and the disease usually heals in three weeks.

Clinical picture

The incubation period is 2-7 days. The first clinical signs are loss of appetite, lameness and fever. Subsequently, vesicles form ( aphthous ulcers ) of claws, snout disc, tongue and teats. Occasionally show up, especially in experimentally infected animals, central nervous system symptoms ( rudder and forced movements, sensory disturbances ).

In piglets occur due to the strong decrease in milk yield in diseased sows high losses.

Diagnosis

The disease is clinically indistinguishable from foot-and- mouth disease, vesicular stomatitis and vesicular exanthema the pigs.

The virus can be isolated from the liquid bubble, skin and mucous membrane, blood, and serum and cultivated in porcine kidney cell cultures which show cytopathic changes. An ELISA can be detected viral antigen in material of the bubbles.

Combat

The animal disease is notifiable. The combat swine vesicular disease depends on the animal health requirements and is caused by the veterinary authorities. In most European countries, outbreaks have been isolated and killed the stocks concerned. A vaccine is not available.