Diagnosis and genotyping of African swine fever viruses from 2015 outbreaks in Zambia.

Jonas Thoromo,Gerald Misinzo,Caesar H Lubaba,Girja S Pandey,Ayato Takada,Aaron S Mweene,Liywalii Mataa,Edgar Simulundu,Herman M Chambaro

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1095

Abstract

In early 2015, a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs resembling African swine fever (ASF) occurred in North Western, Copperbelt, and Lusaka provinces of Zambia. Molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction targeting specific amplification of p72 (B646L) gene of ASF virus (ASFV) was conducted. Fourteen out of 16 domestic pigs from the affected provinces were found to be positive for ASFV. Phylogenetic analyses based on part of the p72 and the complete p54 (E183L) genes revealed that all the ASFVs detected belonged to genotypes I and Id, respectively. Additionally, epidemiological data suggest that the same ASFV spread from Lusaka to other provinces possibly through uncontrolled and/or illegal pig movements. Although the origin of the ASFV that caused outbreaks in domestic pigs in Zambia could not be ascertained, it appears likely that the virus may have emerged from within the country or region, probably from a sylvatic cycle. It is recommended that surveillance of ASF, strict biosecurity, and quarantine measures be imposed in order to prevent further spread and emergence of new ASF outbreaks in Zambia.

Highlights

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs caused by a complex DNA virus of the genus Asfivirus, family Asfarviridae
Zambia has experienced many outbreaks of ASF, genetic characterisation of ASF virus (ASFV) involved in outbreaks has been conducted only for some viruses
ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs have continued to occur in Zambia, including the one reported in 2013 (Yabe et al 2015) and those reported in this study

Summary

Introduction

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs caused by a complex DNA virus of the genus Asfivirus, family Asfarviridae. Most isolates of ASF virus (ASFV) cause an acute haemorrhagic fever with mortality rates that can reach 100% in susceptible pigs. ASF has spread into some of the member states of the European Union including Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia (Pejsak et al 2014). These events stress the need for concerted international efforts in the control of ASF

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