Localization of classical swine fever virus antigen in young piglets by immunohistochemistry

The present study investigated the diagnosis of classical swine fever in piglets of four to six months using gross lesions, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Gross examination revealed hemorrhagic kidneys, lymph nodes and spleen along with button shaped ulcer in intestine. Histopathological examination revealed focal to diffuse haemorrhages in the red pulp of spleen with depletion of the lymphocytes and multiple ulcerative lesions with necrosis of the epithelial mucosa in large intestine. Immunohistochemically, the viral antigen was demonstrated in the bronchial epithelial cells, mononuclear cells in spleen, intestine and Purkinje cells of the brain.