Experimental transmission of African swine fever virus by Ornithodoros coriaceus, an argasid tick indigenous to the United States

Abstract

Three ticks, indigenous to the United States, were assessed for their ability to maintain and transmit African swine fever virus (ASFV). Amblyomma americanum and A cajennense adults and nymphs maintained virus for 4 to 7 days after engorging on infected swine blood; however, virus was not carried through the subsequent molt of nymphs and it was not transmitted vertically to the eggs and larvae of the infected females. On refeeding of the ticks, infection was not transmitted to healthy swine. Ornithodoros coriaceus adult females also did not show transovarial transmission of two strains of ASFV. Nymphs, however, maintained virus for 77 to 118 days through a molting stage and transmitted one strain of the virus (Lisbon 60) to healthy swine.