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. 2018 Jan;11(1):5-9.
doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.5-9. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Third wave of African swine fever infection in Armenia: Virus demonstrates the reduction of pathogenicity

M A Sargsyan  1 , H E Voskanyan  2 , E M Karalova  2 , L H Hakobyan  2 , Z A Karalyan  2   3
Affiliations

Third wave of African swine fever infection in Armenia: Virus demonstrates the reduction of pathogenicity

M A Sargsyan et al. Vet World. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: First cases of clinically uncommon African swine fever (ASF), caused by virus genotype II are described in this article. These cases occurred in Armenia, Tavush region, Dilijan municipality in 2011. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the new pathogenic forms of ASF in Armenia.

Materials and methods: The isolation and identification of ASF virus (ASFV) were carried out using conventional techniques. Clinical signs of infection were recorded daily. Gross anatomical pathology characteristics were observed during routine postmortem examinations. Blood and serum were obtained by puncture of the jugular vein using a vacutainer system.

Results: The presence of ASFV DNA in the spleens was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Sequenced sections of p72 showed phylogenetic identity to genotype 2. The pathology exhibits unusual manifestations of the main disease. The unusual form of ASF demonstrates characteristics of a subacute form of the disease, with the possibility of conversion to a chronic form. Decreased lethality, low level of hemorrhages, and absence of severe pancytopenia in smears from spleen, lymph nodes, and blood are common features of the new form of ASF. Unlike severe thrombocytopenia in the typical ASF, the unusual form exhibited moderate or minor decrease of this feature. Despite a moderate decrease in hemadsorption titers, the unusual pattern of the disease was characterized by viremia and the presence of the virus in the visceral organs, including the brain.

Conclusion: Our data allow assuming that new nosological form of ASF (genotype II) may present as a transitional form of the disease with the possibility of chronization.

Keywords: African swine fever; chronization; new isolate; viremia.

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Figures

Figure-1
Figure-1
Comparative gross anatomical pathology. Left column - African swine fever virus (ASFV) Georgia 2007, right column - ASFV Dilijan 2011 Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB). (a) Spleen with hemorrhages (shown by arows) Georgia 2007. (b) Enlarged spleen without hemorrhages, infection by Dilijan 2011 IMB strain. (c) Heart and lungs with massive hemorrhages Georgia 2007. (d) Lungs with partial infarcts and point hemorrhages, infection by Dilijan 2011 IMB strain. (e) Liver with confluent hemorrhage, Georgia 2007. (f) Singe minor hemorrhages (shown by arows) Dilijan 2011 IMB. (g) Lymph nodes at 6 dpi infection by Georgia 2007 strain. (h) Lymph nodes at 10 dpi infection by Dilijan 2011 IMB strain. (i) Petechiated kidney at 6 dpi infection by Georgia 2007 strain. (j) Kidney almost without hemorrhages, at 10 dpi infection by Dilijan 2011 IMB strain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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