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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162879
Title: PRECLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER IN CONTACT EXPOSED SWINE BY A PORTABLE REAL-TIME PCR ASSAY

Author
item Zsak, Laszlo
item Borca, Manuel
item Risatti, Guillermo
item FRENCH, RICHARD - UNIVERSITY OF CT
item Lu, Zhiqiang
item Kutish, Gerald
item Neilan, John
item CALLAHAN, JOHNNY - TETRACORE INC., MD
item NELSON, WILLIAM - TETRACORE INC., MD
item Rock, Daniel

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2004
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A TaqMan real-time PCR assay was developed and evaluated in experimentally infected swine. The assay detected ASFV, representing geographically and temporally distinct viruses from different natural hosts (pig, warthog, bushpig, tick). Importantly, this assay, which can be performed in 2 hours or less, detected the presence of the virus in pig tissue samples 2 to 4 days before the appearance of the clinical symptoms. A highly sensitive and specific real-time PCR assay can be successfully used as a pen-side assay for rapid on-site detection of ASFV infection. The early detection of ASFV suggests two potential uses in disease control for the assay: as a tool for preclinical diagnosis and surveillance in areas free of the disease and as a screening assay for monitoring a disease outbreak in real time.

Technical Abstract: A fluorogenic probe hydrolysis (TaqMan®) PCR assay for African swine fever virus (ASFV) was developed and evaluated in experimentally infected swine. This sensitive and specific one step-single tube assay, which can be performed in two hours or less, detected viral DNA in tonsil scraping samples 2 to 4 days prior to onset of clinical disease. Thus, the assay would have application for preclinical diagnosis of African swine fever and surveillance and/or emergency management of a disease outbreak.