title: Cutaneous lesions in experimental acute and subacute African swine fever: an immunohistopathological and ultrastructural study.
abstract: Histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural cutaneous changes are described in acute and subacute forms of experimental African Swine Fever (ASF). Fourteen 3-month-old Large White cross pigs were infected intramuscularly with the Dominican Republic 78 (DR78) ASF virus isolate and euthanized in pairs on alternatives days (3 to 17) post-inoculation (dpi). Three pigs were found dead at 8, 10 and 13 dpi, respectively. Antibodies against viral antigen Vp73, human fibrinogen, glycoprotein IIIa and Factor VIII-ra were used to evaluate viral antigen distribution, fibrin microthrombi and platelets in dermal vessels, respectively. Cutaneous lesions were characterised by vascular changes ranging from hyperaemia, mild oedema, scarce fibrin microthrombi and microhaemorrhages in euthanized animals, to generalized fibrin microthrombosis and microhaemorrhages in dead pigs. Secondary pustules and superficial folliculitis were observed in two animals dead at 10 and 13 dpi. Diffuse cytoplasmic Vp73 labelling was found in numerous intravascular monocytes and dermal macrophages. Ultrastructural studies showed mature viral particles in the lumen of dermal vessels but viral replication was not observed; nonetheless, microtubuloreticular structures were observed in the cytoplasm of some endothelial cells and macrophages which showed cytopathic effects, signs of cell activation or degeneration. Morphological and immunohistochemical evidences of platelet activation, degranulation and consumption were observed from 5 dpi onward.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomia y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mozos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herráez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jover
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral