Evidence for the presence of African swine fever virus in an endemic region of Western Kenya in the absence of any reported outbreak

Thomas, L. F., Bishop, R. P., Onzere, C., Mcintosh, M. T., Lemire, K. A., de Glanville, W. A., Cook, E. A. J. and Fèvre, E. M. (2016) Evidence for the presence of African swine fever virus in an endemic region of Western Kenya in the absence of any reported outbreak. BMC Veterinary Research, 12(1), 192. (doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0830-5) (PMID:27608711) (PMCID:PMC5016997)

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Abstract

Background: African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a severe haemorrhagic disease of pigs, outbreaks of which can have a devastating impact upon commercial and small-holder pig production. Pig production in western Kenya is characterised by low-input, free-range systems practised by poor farmers keeping between two and ten pigs. These farmers are particularly vulnerable to the catastrophic loss of livestock assets experienced in an ASF outbreak. This study wished to expand our understanding of ASFV epidemiology during a period when no outbreaks were reported. Results: Two hundred and seventy six whole blood samples were analysed using two independent conventional and real time PCR assays to detect ASFV. Despite no recorded outbreak of clinical ASF during this time, virus was detected in 90/277 samples analysed by conventional PCR and 142/209 samples analysed by qPCR. Genotyping of a sub-set of these samples indicated that the viruses associated with the positive samples were classified within genotype IX and that these strains were therefore genetically similar to the virus associated with the 2006/2007 ASF outbreaks in Kenya. Conclusion: The detection of ASFV viral DNA in a relatively high number of pigs delivered for slaughter during a period with no reported outbreaks provides support for two hypotheses, which are not mutually exclusive: (1) that virus prevalence may be over-estimated by slaughter-slab sampling, relative to that prevailing in the wider pig population; (2) that sub-clinical, chronically infected or recovered pigs may be responsible for persistence of the virus in endemic areas.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:De Glanville, Dr William
Authors: Thomas, L. F., Bishop, R. P., Onzere, C., Mcintosh, M. T., Lemire, K. A., de Glanville, W. A., Cook, E. A. J., and Fèvre, E. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:BMC Veterinary Research
Publisher:BioMed Central Ltd
ISSN:1746-6148
ISSN (Online):1746-6148
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Veterinary Research 12(1):192
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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