Characterization of African swine fever virus Caucasus isolate in European wild boars

Abstract

Since 2007, African swine fever has spread from the Caucasus region. To learn more about the dynamics of the disease in wild boars (Sus scrofa), we conducted experiments by using European wild boars. We found high virulence of Caucasus isolates limited potential for establishment of endemicity.

Figure 1

Ventral view of the head showing pathologic signs in a wild boar piglet after oral inoculation with 10⁶ median tissue culture infectious dose of an African swine fever virus isolate from Armenia (experiment at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut). Note edematously enlarged and hemorrhagic mandibular lymph nodes. The animal died on day 7 postinfection.

Figure 2

View of the mucosal surface of the dissected stomach showing representative gross lesions after oral inoculation of a wild boar with 10⁶ median tissue culture infectious dose of an African swine fever virus isolate from Armenia (experiment at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut). The image illustrates acute gastritis; note diffuse mucosal hemorrhages affecting a large part of the mucosa. The animal died on day 7 postinfection.