title: Pathology and molecular diagnosis of classical swine fever in Mizoram.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical histopathological and molecular diagnosis of classical swine fever disease in pigs of Mizoram.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally, 31 clinically suspected pigs from 6 districts of Mizoram were examined, and clinical symptoms were recorded. Detailed post mortem examination of all the 31 dead animals was conducted, and gross changes were recorded. Tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination and molecular diagnosis. The collected tissues (tonsil, lymph nodes, spleen) were also processed for RNA extraction. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect the specific gene fragments of classical swine fever virus (CSFV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical examination of all the 31 suspected pigs revealed typical clinical signs of CSF. All the animals also showed typical gross and microscopic lesions of CSF. RT-PCR on tissue samples amplified the 421bp, 449bp and 735bp region of 5´NCR, non-structural protein 5B and E(rns) gene regions of CSFV, respectively. Nested PCR for internal region of E2 gene also amplified the expected product of 271bp using PCR product of whole E2 region as template DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSF is highly endemic disease in Mizoram. The viral strains circulating in this region are highly virulent. The disease can be diagnosed specifically using RT-PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malswamkima
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Rajkhowa
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Dutta
keywords: Mizoram; classical swine fever; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction