Community programme (EEC) of research into classical swine fever and African swine fever, 1973-1976

A four-year Community research programme into classical swine fever and African swine fever was established, considering that research on virology of swine fever constitutes a fundamental element of the technical progress in the field of swine breeding.

In 1974 the programme was revised, thus extending the number of participating countries in order to exploit the particular epidemiological conditions found in the United Kingdom, in Ireland and in Denmark. The revision also provided for a contribution to be made towards the setting up of scientific teams competent in epidemiological matters for the purpose of improved prevention of epizooty risks in the Community countries free from classical and African swine fever.
To coordinate efficiently Community research into the virology of swine fever in order to maintain and increase productivity in the swine breeding sector.
Classical swine fever:

- Virology:
. Study of the properties of the classical swine fever virus and its diagnostic applications;
. Purification of the virus labelled by means of radioactive precursors;
. Breaking down of the virus into sub-units and study of these sub-units;

- Pathology:
. Study of the living vaccines in relation to their diagnostic differential;
. Study of the antigenic relationships between the classical swine fever virus and the bovine diarrhoea virus for the purposes of improving differential diagnosis between the two diseases;
. Laying down of the most effective means of administering this vaccine;

- Immunology:
. Mechanisms of immune reactions in swine against the classical swine fever virus;
. Determination of the age at which a piglet sets up its local immunity process;
. Study of the immunizing activity of bovine diarrhoea virus as compared with classical swine fever virus.

African swine fever:

- Virology:
Antigenic structure of the virus, characterization of the roots of the African virus;

- Pathology:
Study of the sub-clinical or chronic forms of the disease in relation to the current problems of diagnosis;

- Immunology:
. Study of the behaviour of the virus during experimental immunization and study of the mechanisms which inhibit the reproduction of the virus;
. Study of the various fractions of the viral particle and localization of the neutralizing power by means of immuno-serums prepared with these fractions;
. Perfecting of differential diagnosis in the light of the evolution of wild strains.
The Commission was responsible for the implementation of the programme and was required to submit an annual report and a final overview on the results obtained.

Laboratories and research institutes in the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark took part in the programme. Two associate laboratories in Spain and Portugal respectively also participated.