Feed contaminated with classical swine fever vaccine virus (LOM strain) can induce antibodies to the virus in pigs

In November 2004, antibodies to classical swine fever virus (CSFV) were detected in finishing pigs during the annual serological surveillance in Jeju Province, Korea. In addition, CSF vaccine viruses (LOM strain) had recently been isolated from pigs raised on farms known to have CSFV antibody-positive pigs. In contrast with mainland Korea, Jeju Province had been CSF free and its pigs had not been vaccinated against CSF for more than five years. An epidemiological investigation team from the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service investigated the current status of CSF prevention on the Korean mainland and in Jeju Province to determine possible routes of introduction of the virus into the province. It was concluded that improperly processed blood meals, manufactured on mainland Korea, had been contaminated with the CSF vaccine LOM strain, and that the LOM strain had been transmitted to pigs fed feed or feedstuffs containing the contaminated meal.