Transboundary Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease/ Exotic Animal Disease Practice Exam

What is the most resilient condition for the CSF virus to survive?

1. Pork products cooked to 250 degrees F

2. Direct sunlight

3. Equipment and other fomites after normal cleaning

4. Refrigerated contaminated meat for more than 30 days and some types of cured meat products

The correct answer is: Refrigerated contaminated meat for more than 30 days and some types of cured meat products

The most resilient condition for the Classical Swine Fever (CSF) virus to survive is associated with refrigerated contaminated meat for an extended period and certain types of cured meat products. The CSF virus exhibits a degree of stability in chilled environments, allowing it to persist for significant lengths of time, especially when the meat is improperly handled or stored. Refrigeration slows down the degradation processes and can maintain the virus's infectivity, which poses risks for both animal health and biosecurity. Certain cured meats also create favorable conditions for the virus. The curing process may not eliminate all pathogens, and specific methods of preservation allow the virus to withstand extended periods without losing its viability. This characteristic is critical for livestock producers and biosecurity protocols, as it emphasizes the need for stringent measures in handling and disposing of potentially contaminated meat products. In contrast, the other conditions listed reflect environments where the CSF virus is less likely to remain viable. High cooking temperatures effectively denature the virus, rendering it inactive, while direct sunlight can degrade viral particles due to ultraviolet radiation. Similarly, while normal cleaning of equipment and fomites reduces contaminant levels significantly, it may not guarantee the complete eradication of the virus, so it is less resilient compared to the conditions found in refrigerated or cured