Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most dangerous disease for the global pig industry, causing huge economic losses, due to the lack of effective vaccine or treatment. Only the early detection of ASF virus (ASFV) and proper biosecurity measures are effective to reduce the viral expansion. One of the most widely recognized risks as regards the introduction ASFV into a country is infected animals and contaminated livestock vehicles. In order to improve ASF surveillance, we have assessed the capacity for the detection and inactivation of ASFV genome by using Dry-Sponges (3 M) pre-hydrated with a new surfactant liquid. We sampled different surfaces in ASFV-contaminated facilities, including animal skins, and the results were compared to those obtained using a traditional sampling method. The surfactant liquid successfully inactivated the virus, while ASFV DNA was well preserved for the detection. This is an effective method to systematically recover ASFV DNA from different surfaces and skin, which has a key applied relevance in surveillance of vehicles transporting live animals and greatly improves animal welfare. This method provides an important basis for the detection of ASFV genome that can be assessed without the biosafety requirements of a BSL-3 laboratory at least in ASF-affected countries, which may substantially speed up the early detection of the pathogen.
Highlights
African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most dangerous disease for the global pig industry, causing huge economic losses, due to the lack of effective vaccine or treatment
We have considered that the lethal effect (100% lethality) of the shedder-pig challenge exposure infection model at 10 HAD50 doses of ASF virus (ASFV) Armenia[07] has been widely described in pigs and wild boar in direct contact with infected animals and environments[26,27,28,29,30]
A post-mortem analysis revealed pathological findings compatible with ASF, and the presence of ASFV DNA in tissues was confirmed in all the animals
Summary
African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most dangerous disease for the global pig industry, causing huge economic losses, due to the lack of effective vaccine or treatment. The surfactant liquid successfully inactivated the virus, while ASFV DNA was well preserved for the detection This is an effective method to systematically recover ASFV DNA from different surfaces and skin, which has a key applied relevance in surveillance of vehicles transporting live animals and greatly improves animal welfare. The prevention and control of the ASF are, at present, based principally on the early detection of the disease through timely recognition in the field and efficient laboratory diagnosis[10,11] In this respect, a good surveillance program, the availability of facilities and resources, and the preparedness of veterinary services are determinant factors, since samples potentially infected with ASF virus (ASFV) should be handled in a laboratory with an appropriate level of bio-contamination, at least in ASF-free countries, that is not widely available.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
