title: Investigation of African swine fever in slaughtered pigs, Plateau state, Nigeria, 2004-2006.
abstract: The occurrence of African swine fever (ASF) DNA in slaughtered pigs in the major pig producing areas of Plateau state over a 2-year period was investigated. Three hundred fifty-nine pig tissue samples from five local government councils (LGCs) were analyzed by clinical signs (C/S), postmortem (PM) lesions and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results of diagnosis made by C/S and PM were compared to results obtained by PCR. Out of the 359 abattoir samples, 13 (3.62%) were positive by examination of C/S and PM lesions while 346 (96.38%) were negative. Jos-north LGC had the highest occurrence of PCR positive samples (31 samples); Panyam in Mangu LGC had no positive result. PCR analysis identified 53 positive samples (14.76%); more than 40 were identified on the field. Of the samples, 306 were PCR negative, thus giving a true ASF status of pigs in Plateau state. Analysis of the results, variables involved in the ASF spread and predictable effects of such findings in the pig industry in Plateau state and Nigeria as a whole is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Applied Molecular Biology, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.O. Box 2, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. jidecoy@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Olajide Adewale
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Owolodun
authors.forename: Emmanuel Tumininu
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Obishakin
authors.forename: Pius Stephen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ekong
authors.forename: Bitrus
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yakubu
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine