Epidemiological analysis, risk factors, and spatial-temporal clustering of classical swine fever virus in China

Classical Swine Fever (CSF), or swine cholera, is a highly acute, febrile, and contagious disease caused by the Classical Swine Fever virus (CSFV) in pigs. A total of 205,622 samples were collected from 689 pig farms defined as individual production units nationwide across 20 Chinese provinces/cities from January to December 2022. The results showed that at the sample level, the prevalence of CSFV was 0.25% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22% − 0.27%). At the pig farm level, the prevalence of CSFV was 5.08% (95% CI: 3.44% − 6.72%). The risk factors for CSFV infection in pig farms included geographic distribution, quarter, and herd category variables. Eight different temporal groups with a high prevalence of CSFV were also found in China, with the highest prevalence occurring from August to September 2022. Tissue samples and oropharyngeal/nasal swabs showed superior detection rates (1.00% and 0.34%, respectively) and are thus recommended for CSFV surveillance. In conclusion, this data complements the existing studies on the Chinese CSFV positive rate, risk factors, and temporal clustering. Our findings identify high-risk periods (August – September 2022) and regions (Northwest China), providing targeted strategies for CSFV control.