Classical Swine Fever and Unmet Needs
Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious disease affecting both feral and domesticated pigs. Outbreaks in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America have adversely impacted animal health and food security and had severe socio-economic impacts on both the swine industry worldwide and small-scale pig farming. The range of clinical signs and similarity to other diseases can make classical swine fever challenging to diagnose and control in the event of a widespread outbreak.
Currently available vaccines include live attenuated virus vaccines and subunit vaccines. While live attenuated virus vaccines can be efficient at triggering rapid animal immune response and protecting swine populations when combined with culling of infected pigs, current solutions do not allow the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA), nor are they approved for use in the U.S. Previously developed CSF virus (CSFv) subunit vaccines suffer from thermal instability and poor long-lasting protection. Therefore, the development of DIVA compatible and efficacious vaccination solutions remains a top priority to prevent the economic impacts of a CSF outbreak including supply disruptions, export restrictions and reduced food security.
