Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

African swine fever, ASF, was first described 1921, in Kenya. The virus has thereafter spread through many African countries as well as in Europe, Asia, South- and Central America. The virus is spread via three different cycles, of
which one is sylvatic and includes warthogs and soft ticks. The other two are between domestic pigs and the one most common one is caused by humans, who not always realize the seriousness of precautions. The infection manifests as
hemorrhagic fever, but can also be more or less unnoticed.
The aim of this study was to use molecular tools to detect and partly genetically characterize ASFV both in soft ticks and in serum from domestic pigs in Uganda.

Comparing viruses detected in ticks with those detected in domestic pigs I also wanted to investigate possible links between the sylvatic and domestic cycle. The analysis was carried out by TaqMan PCR, with p72 as target gene, and
sequencing of the positive PCR products.

The results from domestic pigs indicate that of genotype XI and X, the only genotypes earlier found in Uganda, IX was the only one detected in this study. Only one out of sixty ticks analyzed, were proven positive. The limited concentration of viral DNA detected in the positive tick, made it impossible to sequence the gene. ASFV is spread easily and vastly, causing enormous economic losses for both small- and big scale-production of pigs. It is therefore necessary to study the epidemiology of this disease to prevent spread of infection.