Key result
Seminested RT-PCR detected classical swine fever virus nucleic acid in the semen of all 5 infected boars persistently up to 63 days postinoculation, mainly in seminal fluid.
Why the study?
Can seminested RT-PCR effectively detect classical swine fever virus in the semen of experimentally infected boars?
Can seminested RT-PCR effectively detect classical swine fever virus in the semen of experimentally infected boars?
Seminested RT-PCR is an effective method for detecting classical swine fever virus in boar semen, highlighting that infection via seminal fluid is a major route of transmission.
May indicate venereal CSFV transmission risk in boars; leaves open whether semen PCR screening alters breeding practices.
A seminested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for the detection of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in semen. Five boars were inoculated intranasally with CSFV isolate propagated in PK15 cells. Two boars inoculated with the supernatant of noninfected PK15 cells were kept as controls. Semen and serum samples were collected twice weekly for 63 days postinoculation (dpi). Samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to CSFV by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for the presence of CSFV nucleic acid by seminested RT-PCR. Antibodies to CSFV could be detected as early as 7 dpi in 1 boar, and all 5 infected boars were found positive by 14 dpi. CSFV from boar semen was infrequently identified by virus isolation compared with seminested RT-PCR. CSFV nucleic acid was detected in semen by seminested RT-PCR as early as 7 dpi in 3 infected boars and persistently thereafter in all 5 infected boars until 63 dpi. When separated fractions of CSFV-contaminated semen were analyzed by the seminested RT-PCR, the CSFV nucleic acid was detected mainly in seminal fluid and occasionally in nonsperm cells. CSFV antigen was also detected in nonsperm cells from semen smear by immunohistochemistry. Thus, infection via semen, specially through CSFV-infected seminal fluid, seems to be a major route of transmission of CSFV.
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Choi et al. (2003) studied Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection (n=7). Intranasal inoculation with CSFV isolate vs. Supernatant of noninfected PK15 cells was evaluated on Detection of CSFV nucleic acid in semen by seminested RT-PCR. Seminested RT-PCR detected classical swine fever virus nucleic acid in the semen of all 5 infected boars persistently up to 63 days postinoculation, mainly in seminal fluid.
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