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

When submitting laboratory samples for classical swine fever surveillance, which tissue should always be included?

1. Brain

2. Tonsil

3. Liver

4. Spleen

The correct answer is: Tonsil

In classical swine fever (CSF) surveillance, the inclusion of tonsil tissue is essential because it is one of the primary sites where the virus can be detected during the early stages of infection. The tonsils are lymphoid tissues that play a significant role in the immune response, and they can harbor high viral loads during acute infection. This makes them critical for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of CSF. Including tonsils in sample submissions allows for better detection rates, as the virus may be present in these tissues even when other tissues might not show signs of infection yet. While other tissues like brain, liver, and spleen can also provide valuable information regarding infection, the tonsils have a unique association with the disease and its early detection, ensuring that the surveillance program effectively captures instances of classical swine fever in the population.