An Outbreak of Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in a Closed-Cycle Unit in Israel
In a closed pig holding facility containing 425 sows, located in northern Israel, a Classical Swine Fever (CSF) outbreak occurred, which caused the loss of 267 sows (62.8% of the farm sow population), 4 boars (out of 6), and 828 growing/fattening pigs (41.4% of the total on the farm), through direct mortality, partial culling, and an unknown number of abortions. The CSF outbreak started among the pregnant sows, with high fever, cyanosis, abortions, lameness, vomiting, and mortality (24.8% of sows and 33.3% boars). At necropsy, hemorrhages were found on the parietal pleura, diaphragm, epicardium and kidney; lymph nodes were congested and hemorrhagic; necrotic lesions were present on the mucosa of the small intestine. CSF was diagnosed at Kimron Veterinary Institute by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and with ELISA-antibody test on serum and ELISA-antigen test on organ homogenates. The results were confirmed by the EU Reference Laboratory at Hanover, Germany with Real Time–PCR on blood and organs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CSFV sequences of the Israeli virus isolates belonged to genotype 2.1. Molecular typing and comparison of amino acids with CSFV subgroup 2.1 isolates from Southeast Asia and from Europe revealed that the CSFV isolate responsible for the Israeli outbreak was genetically most similar to a Chinese CSFV isolate. Involvement of wild boars, which were in contact with sows was suspected. Samples from blood and organs taken from wild boars found in the vicinity of the farm were found positive for CSF. Following confirmation of CSF, elimination of clinically sick animals and vaccination of the remaining population in the holding and the surrounding area were implemented.
Efficacy of E2-sub-unit marker and C-strain vaccines in reducing horizontal transmission of classical swine fever virus in weaner pigs.
At present, two types of vaccines against classical swine fever (CSF) virus are commercially available: E2 sub-unit marker vaccines and the conventional attenuated live C-strain vaccines. To evaluate the reduction of the horizontal virus transmission, three comparable experiments were carried out in which groups of weaner pigs (vaccinated with a marker vaccine or a C-strain vaccine) were challenged with CSF virus at 0, 7, and 14 days post-vaccination (dpv). Virus transmission was prevented totally when the challenge occurred at 14 dpv with an E2-marker vaccine (0/12 contact pigs positive in virus isolation (VI); R = 0 (0; 1.5)). At 7 dpv, transmission was reduced slightly (5/12 contact pigs positive in VI; R = 1.0 (0.3; 3.0)), whereas at 0dpv, vaccination had no effect on transmission (10/12 contact pigs positive in VI; R = 2.9 (1.5; 10.8)). In the C-strain-vaccinated pigs, no virus transmission was detected even when the challenge was performed at the same day as the vaccination (0/12 contact pigs positive in VI; R = 0 (0; 1.5)).
Historias de mi barrio: contemporary art in a community at high risk of social exclusion
Abstract Historias de mi barrio is a piece of pedagogic research aimed at highlighting the way art can articulate the relationship between the educational context and a neighbourhood at high risk of social exclusion. The starting point for this study was to ask whether this type of research, centred around the arts, was suitable in complex contexts and whether it might eventually lead to pedagogic improvement. The results gathered, and indeed the work carried out by the artists and university lecturers involved, together with pupils 6–12 years old and their instructors in a state school, provide evidence of a positive answer – and notably of the necessity of knowing about the socio-economic reality of the student cohort when planning learning projects and of the importance of the arts as a crucial element in education.