Passively transferred African swine fever virus antibodies protect swine against lethal infection.
The role of anti-viral antibodies in homologous protective immunity to a virulent African swine fever virus (ASFV) strain E75 was examined by passive transfer experiments in swine. Eighty-five percent of animals (n = 14) that received anti-ASFV immunoglobulin (Ig) survived challenge infection, while 100% mortality was observed in control group animals (n = 28) that received anti-pseudorabies virus Ig, normal swine Ig, or phosphate-buffered saline. With the exception of a significantly delayed and transient fever response, anti-ASFV Ig group animals remained clinically normal following challenge, whereas control group animals presented with clinical ASF on Day 4 postchallenge. Additionally a significant 3 day delay in onset of viremia and a 10,000-fold reduction in both mean and maximum virus titers were observed for animals given anti-ASFV Ig. These results indicate that anti-ASFV Ig alone will protect swine from lethal infection with virulent ASFV. Further, they support the view that the antibody-mediated protective effect is an early event that effectively delays disease onset.
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Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, New York 11944-0848.
Borca
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Kutish
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Kramer
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E
Irusta
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P
Rock
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DL
D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013552:Swine; D014766:Viremia / Q000517:prevention & control
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins