Identification and genetic characterization of classical swine fever virus isolates in Brazil: a new subgenotype.

The classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs and wild boar. The CSF causes great economic losses for pork production and the occurrence of the disease is notifiable to the OIE. The objective of this work was to identify and characterize CSF virus isolates from Brazil. Seven viral isolates were obtained and the full-length E2 sequences were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a different segregation pattern between Brazilian isolates and members of subgenotype 1.1, forming a separate group within genotype 1. Genetic distance analysis suggested the existence of two new subgenotypes, designated subgenotypes 1.5 and 1.6.