Some epidemiology and immunopathology considerations of classical swine fever

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease caused by RNA virus, Flaviviridae family, genus Pestivirus,known as Pestivirus C. Its worldwide distribution is now known and causes large economic losses in pig production. Its only natural reservoirs are pig and wild boar. The objective 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 dissemination and endemicity. CSF virus infection is characterized by disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia and immunosuppression, depending on the severity of the virulence of the different strains. The virus has an affinity for monocytes/macrophages and vascular endothelial cells where it can 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 generating 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 based on gasdermin-D in peripheral lymphoid organs that reduces the humoral and cellular immune response. Immunopathological understanding from 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.