Abstract
Background and Aim:In modern scientific literature presents an understanding that African swine fever (ASF) ASF virus (ASFV) is remarkably stable in the environment, and carcasses of the pigs which were died after ASF, play a key role as ASFV reservoir. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of the ASFV (different isolates) survival in bodies of dead animals, bones, remnants of bone marrow, residual organ matrix in natural conditions.Materials and Methods:Skeletons of ASFV infected pigs which were died and left/abandoned in forests or buried in Armenia at diverse time points and locations had been excavated and examined for the presence of ASFV genome by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and for infection abilities through in vitro (hemadsorption test and infection in porcine lung macrophages) as well as by intramuscular infection in healthy pigs.Results:Current exploration showed that in several samples (with different times of exposure) of excavated skeletons had been detected the presence of the virus gene (p72) using real-time PCR. However, in none of these porcine samples, infectious ASFV could be isolated. Data obtained by real-time PCR at frequent intervals indicated the presence of the virus gene (p72), especially within the case of the acute form of the disease. This can be explained by the highest levels of the virus during the latter case mentioned above.Conclusion:ASFV seems to be very sensitive to environmental temperature. The best place for ASFV long-term survival in the natural environment is bone marrow from intact big tubular bones (like femur or tibia) of buried carcasses. In artificial “graves,” complete bones with not destructed bone marrow can preserve the virus gene (p72) for a very long time (more than 2 years). Infectious particles in underground conditions survive not so long: In complete bones with not affected bone marrow, possible presence of the virus for several months.
Highlights
At present, the ability of the African swine fever (ASF) ASF virus (ASVF) to circulate for a long time in the natural conditions in Europe and Asia has been shown
There was no success of ASF virus (ASFV) isolation from all of the investigated samples obtained from excavated skeletons
It must be noted that in some samples, which were investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the positive results might be related to the fact that remnants of the tissues were originally preserved in the samples
Summary
The ability of the African swine fever (ASF) ASF virus (ASVF) to circulate for a long time in the natural conditions in Europe and Asia has been shown. It was reported on the frequency of new outbreaks of the ASFV in the Eurasian region [1]. In the African region, ASFV can persist in various Suidae susceptible to the virus, and this is not common in Eurasian region. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of the ASFV (different isolates) survival in bodies of dead animals, bones, remnants of bone marrow, residual organ matrix in natural conditions
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