Comparison of different control strategies for classical swine fever using emergency vaccination and rapid PCR testing by using a Monte-Carlo simulation model

J Brosig,K Depner,I Traulsen,S Blome,J Krieter

doi:10.7482/0003-9438-56-100

J Brosig, K Depner + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7482/0003-9438-56-100

Copy DOI

Abstract

Abstract. Whenever an outbreak of classical swine fever has occurred in the European Union (EU), the basic control measures have usually been supplemented by preventive culling. This strategy has led to a great number of culled pigs and is discussed by general public and politics from both ethical and economic points of view. Emergency vaccination has been deemed to be an alternative control measure for some time now. PCR testing also provides a possible future strategy, since this method would allow a rapid and reliable testing of pigs in the vicinity of an outbreak farm. In this study, a spatial and temporal Monte-Carlo simulation model was used to compare alternative control strategies based upon these two measures (»Emergency Vaccination«, »Test To Slaughter«, »Test To Control« and »Vaccination in conjunction with Rapid Testing«) with the current control strategy. Two regions for investigation with different farm densities were used in the model. In a region with a low farm density, the basic EU control measures seemed to be sufficient to control an epidemic. In a region with a high farm density, additional measures would be necessary. »Emergency Vaccination« in a 3 km application zone and »Traditional Control« reached the same level of infected farms. Both »Test To Slaughter« and »Test To Control« combined with preventive culling led to a lower number of infected farms compared to the sole preventive culling strategy. The alternative control measures can reduce the number of culled farms significantly compared to »Traditional Control«.

Highlights

Classical swine fever (CSF) is an OIE-listed disease of domestic pigs and wild boar which causes considerable economic losses (Edwards et al 2000)
In the case of an outbreak of CSF in the European Union (EU), its control is carried out according to Council Directive 2001/89/EC (Anonymous 2001)
The simulation showed that control strategies using vaccination and rapid testing could be alternatives to the current control measures

Summary

Introduction

Classical swine fever (CSF) is an OIE-listed disease of domestic pigs and wild boar which causes considerable economic losses (Edwards et al 2000). It is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the CSF virus, a member of the genus Pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae (Moennig 2000). Council Directive 2001/89/EC stipulates a radius of 500 m around an outbreak site but sometimes the radius is extended e.g. in the epidemics in Belgium 1997 (Mintiens et al 2001), in the Netherlands 1997/1998 (Elbers et al 1999) or in Germany 2006 (Anonymous 2006) This current strategy leads to a widespread destruction of healthy animals and is controversial both from an ethical and an economical point of view.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion