Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of ASFV Infection in Nigerian Indigenous Pig

Olufunke O Oluwole,Galman O Omitogun

doi:10.4236/ajmb.2014.43017

Abstract

This work investigated the presence of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) in Nigerian Indigenous Pig (NIP) using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screening method on the extracted DNA from the pig blood. NIP population selected from south western Nigeria were used for this study. ASFV infected blood samples collected from the University of Ibadan were used as positive control. Adiscrete and specific band was observed in both NIP and the infected samples show the presence of ASFV in NIP. The bands were of the expected size 278 base pairs (bp). The implication of this finding is that NIPs have domiciled ASFV without showing any clinical symptoms.

Highlights

The population of pig in Nigeria increases from 2 million in 1984 to 7 million in 1997 before the widespread of African Swine Fever (ASF) epizootic [1]
From the Polymerase Chain Reaction for molecular investigation, a discrete and specific band of the expected size 278 base pair was observed for Nigerian Indigenous Pig (NIP) in lane 5 and in lane 6 where discrete band was observed for infected animal collected from University of Ibadan as positive control
The result showed that pure NIP was infected with African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) without showing any clinical symptoms

Summary

Introduction

The population of pig in Nigeria increases from 2 million in 1984 to 7 million in 1997 before the widespread of ASF epizootic [1]. The Nigerian Indigenous Pig (NIP) is becoming extinct as livestock genetic resource due to the high rate of genetic erosion which is caused by extensive indiscriminate and unplanned mating with exotic pig breeds. It has been acknowledged that the NIP is resistant to African Swine Fever but it has not been scientifically investigated and documented. Disease is one of the factors that affect the livestock production in Nigeria [2]. Pigs harbour a range of parasites and diseases, some of which are zoonotic. One of these is the African Swine Fever that is caused by a virus

Objectives

Methods

Results