African swine fever situation and detection methods in Lithuania

Abstract

African swine fever is one of the most important and serious diseases of wild boar and domestic pigs. Its highly contagious nature and ability to spread over long distances make it one of the most feared diseases, since its devastating effects on pig production have been experienced not only in most of sub-Saharan Africa but also in Western Europe, the Caribbean, Brazil and, most recently, the Caucasus. On 24 th January 2014 Lithuania notified two primary cases of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar. The animals were tested positive for ASF virus (ASFV) genome by real time PCR at the National Reference Laboratory for ASF in Lithuania (NRL), results were confirmed by the EURL CISA-INIA. Intensive wild and domestic animal monitoring program was started. During period 2014-2017 ASF were confirmed in two large commercial pig holding with the highest biosecurity. Pigs were killed and destroyed. Since 2014 ASF outbreak territory from east and south has expanded to the middle of Lithuania. As there is still no vaccine or treatment available, monitoring and controling of the disease is the only way to control the disease. Diagnosis by PCR is one of the highly recommended diagnostic methods by OIE for diagnosis of ASF. This studies was to combine singleplex real-time PCR assays to a duplex assay allowing the identification of ASF and internal control in a single PCR tube and to compare primers target the p72 gene (ASF 250 bp and ASF 75 bp) efectivity. Multiplex real-time PCR assays offer the possibility to save analysis time and costs and have therefore a high potential to be applied in routine analysis. For experiments were used reference sample (INIA, Spain), and positive samples from affected places in Lithuania. Results show 100% sensitivity and specificity.