ASFV diagnostics

Background: After the occurrence of Blue Tongue in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands following a long time of freedom the contingency planning for ASFV must be intensified. In 2007 ASFV has spread in Georgia, Armenia and some Russian counties, therefore it is necessary to maintain the basic research on this disease. We have analysed field sera from Uganda, but without detection of antibodies of ASFV in these herds.
At Lindholm we base our diagnostic on a PriProET which has been validated on a variety of strains both based on sequence analysis and on practical testing of virus strains. The intention is to validate the PriProET to be used as the main diagnostic method.
Our experience with ASFV allows us to take part in several project applications, the most recent one is an application for DANIDA on smallholder pig production in Mozambique where we have been invited to take over the ASFV part from the laboratory in Ondersteport, South Africa.
The isolation of virus on cell cultures is very difficult as not all batches of macrophages are susceptible. The laboratory in Lindholm is one of the few national reference laboratories able to perform this virus isolation; therefore we were chosen to participate in an internal comparison.


Experimental plan
To perform research to assure the safe diagnostics of ASFV including validation of methods used in case of suspicions. The experience is obtained through the analysis of materials from experimentally infected pigs and participation in the annual ringtrial for ASFV.
Real time PCR, virus isolation in cell cultures and methods to detect specific ASFV antibodies (primarily IPT) is used.