Genetic profile of African swine fever virus responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi

Abstract Background: African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious transboundary animal disease which causes high mortality, approaching 100% in domestic pigs and it is currently considered as the most serious constraint to domestic pig industry and food security globally. Despite regular ASF outbreaks within Malawi, few studies have genetically characterized the causative ASF virus (ASFV). This study aimed at genetic characterization of ASFV responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi. The disease confirmation was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by molecular characterization of the causative ASFV by partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, nucleotide alignment of the intergenic region (IGR) between I73R and I329L genes and translation of the central variable region (CVR) coded by B602L gene.Results: All thirteen samples collected during this study in Karonga district in September 2019 were ASFV-positive and after partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, the viruses clustered into ASFV p72 genotype II. The viruses characterized in this study lacked a GAATATATAG fragment between the I173R and the I329L genes and were classified as IGR I variants. Furthermore, the tetrameric amino acid repeats within the CVR of the B602L gene of the 2019 Malawian ASFV reported in this study had the signature BNDBNDBNAA, 100% similar to ASFV responsible for the 2013 and 2017 ASF outbreaks in Zambia and Tanzania, respectively.Conclusions: The results of this study confirm an ASF outbreak in Karonga district in northern Malawi in September 2019. The virus was closely related to other p72 genotype II ASFV that caused outbreaks in neighboring eastern and southern African countries, emphasizing the possible regional transboundary transmission of this ASFV genotype. These findings call for a concerted regional and international effort to control the spread of ASF in order to improve nutritional and food security.

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Genetic profile of African swine fever virus responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi

10.21203/rs.3.rs-24927/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

J.N. Hakizimana ◽

G. Kamwendo ◽

J.L.C. Chulu ◽

O. Kamana ◽

H.J. Nauwynck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Genetic Profile ◽

African Countries ◽

Partial Genome ◽

Genotype Ii

Abstract Background: African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious transboundary animal disease which causes high mortality, approaching 100% in domestic pigs and it is currently considered as the most serious constraint to domestic pig industry and food security globally. Despite regular ASF outbreaks within Malawi, few studies have genetically characterized the causative ASF virus (ASFV). This study aimed at genetic characterization of ASFV responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi. The disease confirmation was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by molecular characterization of the causative ASFV by partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, nucleotide alignment of the intergenic region (IGR) between I73R and I329L genes and translation of the central variable region (CVR) coded by B602L gene.Results: All thirteen samples collected during this study in Karonga district in September 2019 were ASFV-positive and after partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, the viruses clustered into ASFV p72 genotype II. The viruses characterized in this study lacked a GAATATATAG fragment between the I173R and the I329L genes and were classified as IGR I variants. Furthermore, the tetrameric amino acid repeats within the CVR of the B602L gene of the 2019 Malawian ASFV reported in this study had the signature BNDBNDBNAA, 100% similar to ASFV responsible for the 2013 and 2017 ASF outbreaks in Zambia and Tanzania, respectively.Conclusions: The results of this study confirm an ASF outbreak in Karonga district in northern Malawi in September 2019. The virus was closely related to other p72 genotype II ASFV that caused outbreaks in neighboring eastern and southern African countries, emphasizing the possible regional transboundary transmission of this ASFV genotype. These findings call for a concerted regional and international effort to control the spread of ASF in order to improve nutritional and food security.

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Genetic profile of African Swine Fever Virus Responsible for the 2019 Outbreak in Northern Malawi

10.21203/rs.3.rs-24927/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

J.N. Hakizimana ◽

G. Kamwendo ◽

J.L.C. Chulu ◽

O. Kamana ◽

H.J. Nauwynck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Genetic Profile ◽

African Countries ◽

Partial Genome ◽

Genotype Ii

Abstract Background African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious transboundary animal disease which causes high mortality, approaching 100% in domestic pigs and it is currently considered as the most serious constraint to domestic pig industry and food security globally. Despite regular ASF outbreaks within Malawi, few studies have genetically characterized the causative ASF virus (ASFV). This study aimed at genetic characterization of ASFV responsible for the 2019 outbreak in northern Malawi. The disease confirmation was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by molecular characterization of the causative ASFV by partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, nucleotide alignment of the intergenic region (IGR) between I73R and I329L genes and translation of the central variable region (CVR) coded by B602L gene.Results All thirteen samples collected during this study in Karonga district in September 2019 were ASFV-positive and after partial genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction of the B646L (p72) gene, the viruses clustered into ASFV p72 genotype II. The viruses characterized in this study lacked a GAATATATAG fragment between the I173R and the I329L genes and were classified as IGR I variants. Furthermore, the tetrameric amino acid repeats within the CVR of the B602L gene of the 2019 Malawian ASFV reported in this study had the signature BNDBNDBNAA, 100% similar to ASFV responsible for the 2013 and 2017 ASF outbreaks in Zambia and Tanzania, respectively.Conclusions The results of this study confirms an ASF outbreak in Karonga district in northern Malawi in September 2019. The virus was closely related to other p72 genotype II ASFV that caused outbreaks in neighboring eastern and southern African countries, emphasizing the possible regional transboundary transmission of this ASFV genotype. These findings call for a concerted regional and international effort to control the spread of ASF in order to improve nutritional and food security.

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Biological characterization of African swine fever virus genotype II strains from north-eastern Estonia in European wild boar

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases ◽

10.1111/tbed.12614 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 64 (6) ◽

pp. 2034-2041 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

I. Nurmoja ◽

A. Petrov ◽

C. Breidenstein ◽

L. Zani ◽

J. H. Forth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Biological Characterization ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

European Wild Boar ◽

North Eastern ◽

Genotype Ii

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First-Time Presence of African Swine Fever Virus Genotype II in Nigeria

Microbiology Resource Announcements ◽

10.1128/mra.00350-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (26) ◽

Author(s):

Adeyinka J. Adedeji ◽

Pam D. Luka ◽

Rebecca B. Atai ◽

Toyin A. Olubade ◽

Dupe A. Hambolu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

West Africa ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Control Measures ◽

Virus Genotype ◽

Partial Sequencing ◽

First Time ◽

Genotype Ii

A confirmed African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Nigeria was further investigated by partial sequencing of B464L and E183L genes of the ASF virus (ASFV). Results revealed the first-time presence of ASFV genotype II in Nigeria and West Africa. This finding has serious implications for control measures and food security.

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Food Security and Research Agenda in African Swine Fever Virus: a new Arbovirus Threat in the Dominican Republic

InterAmerican Journal of Medicine and Health ◽

10.31005/iajmh.v4i.210 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Robert Paulino-Ramirez

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Dominican Republic ◽

Research Agenda ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Emerging Pathogens ◽

The Impact

An outbreak of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) has been reported in La Hispaniola. Ecological niches of transmission and further characterization of vectors involved should be included in a research agenda to reduce the impact on emerging pathogens affecting food security in a previous afflicted region.

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Molecular Characterization of African Swine Fever Virus Isolates in Estonia in 2014–2019

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9070582 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 582 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Annika Vilem ◽

Imbi Nurmoja ◽

Tarmo Niine ◽

Taavi Riit ◽

Raquel Nieto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Variable Region ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Limited Area ◽

First Case ◽

Central Variable Region ◽

Genotype Ii

After the extensive spread of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype II in Eastern Europe, the first case of African swine fever (ASF) in Estonia was diagnosed in September 2014. By the end of 2019, 3971 ASFV-positive wild boars were found, and 27 domestic pig outbreaks were reported. A selection of ASFV isolates from wild boar and domestic pigs (during the period of September 2014–2019) was molecularly characterized using standardized genotyping procedures. One of the proven markers to characterize this virus is the central variable region (CVR) within the B602L gene. In summer 2015, a new ASFV genotype II CVR variant 2 (GII-CVR2) was confirmed in Estonia. The results suggest that the GII-CVR2 variant was only confirmed in wild boar from a limited area in southern Estonia in 2015 and 2016. In addition to GII-CVR2, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that resulted in amino acid change was identified within the genotype II CVR variant 1 (GII-CVR1). The GII-CVR1/SNP1 strain was isolated in Estonia in November 2016. Additional GII-CVR1/SNP1 cases were confirmed in two neighbouring counties, as well as in one outbreak farm in June 2017. Based on the available data, no GII-CVR2 and GII-CVR1/SNP1 have been reported by other affected European countries. The spread of variant strains in Estonia has been limited over time, and restricted to a relatively small area.

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Genetic characterization of African swine fever virus in Romania during 2018-2019 outbreak

10.1101/2019.12.15.876938 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Vlad Petrovan ◽

Mihai Turcitu ◽

Lilia Matei ◽

Vlad Constantinescu ◽

Mihaela Zaulet

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Genetic Characterization ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Republic Of Georgia ◽

The Republic ◽

Socio Economic Impact ◽

Genotype Ii

AbstractAfrican swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and lethal viral disease of swine with significant socio-economic impact in the developed and developing world. Since its reintroduction in 2007 in the Republic of Georgia, the disease has spread dramatically thorough Europe and Asia. Among the most affected countries in Europe is Romania, which initially reported the disease in 2017 and in 2018-2019 lost about 1 million pigs. There is no molecular characterization of the virus circulating in Romania during that reported period; therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide an initial molecular characterization using samples collected from two farms affected by ASFV. The causative strain belongs to genotype II, and its closest relatives are the strains circulating in Belgium, Russia, and China.

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Genetic analysis of African swine fever virus based on major genes encoding p72, p54 and p30

The Journal of Agriculture and Development ◽

10.52997/jad.3.03.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (03) ◽

pp. 18-25

Author(s):

Duy T. Do

Keyword(s):

Genetic Characterization ◽

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Sequencing Analysis ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Genotype Ii

African swine fever (ASF) is reported as a highly contagious hemorrhage lethal disease of domestic and wild swine. The causative agent of ASF is a large enveloped DNA virus with a complex structure. There are twenty-four ASFV genotypes described to date. However, in Vietnam, only genotypes II had been previously described. The genetic characterization of ASFV enhances the understanding of ASF epidemiology in terms of the extent, severity, source, and potential genetic variations among ASFV strains circulating in Southern Vietnam. Twenty ASFV strains were collected from pigs with ASFV-infected clinical signs from 10 provinces during 2019 - 2020. Partial B646L (p72) gene, complete E183L (p54), and CP204L (p30) genes were amplified, purified, and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the circulation of genotype II by both the partial B646L (p72) and full-length E183 (p54) gene sequencing. Analysis of the p72, p54, and p30 regions did not indicate any change in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences among these strains. The results of this study revealed that these ASFVs shared high homology to ASFV isolates detected in Northern Vietnam and China.

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Genotyping of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Isolates in Romania with the First Report of Genotype II in Symptomatic Pigs

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci8120290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 290

Author(s):

Andrei Ungur ◽

Cristina Daniela Cazan ◽

Luciana Cătălina Panait ◽

Marian Taulescu ◽

Oana Maria Balmoș ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African Swine Fever Virus ◽

Animal Health ◽

African Swine Fever ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Swine Industry ◽

First Report ◽

The World ◽

First Time ◽

Genotype Ii

The World Organisation for Animal Health has listed African swine fever as the most important deadly disease in domestic swine around the world. The virus was recently brought from South-East Africa to Georgia in 2007, and it has since expanded to Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, having a devastating impact on the global swine industry and economy. In this study, we report for the first time the molecular characterization of nine African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates obtained from domestic pigs in Mureş County, Romania. All nine Romanian samples clustered within p72 genotype II and showed 100% identity with all compared isolates from Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. This is the first report of ASFV genotype II in the country.

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