title: Alternative sampling strategies for passive classical and African swine fever surveillance in wild boar.
abstract: In view of the fact that African swine fever (ASF) was recently introduced into the wild boar population of the European Union and that classical swine fever (CSF) keeps reoccurring, targeted surveillance is of utmost importance for early detection. Introduction of both diseases is usually accompanied by an increased occurrence of animals found dead. Thus, fallen wild boar are the main target for passive surveillance. However, encouraging reporting by hunters and sampling of these animals is difficult. Partly, these problems could be solved by providing a pragmatic sampling approach. For this reason, we assessed the applicability of three different dry/semi-dry blood swabs, namely a cotton swab, a flocked swab, and a forensic livestock swab, for molecular swine fever diagnosis. After nucleic acid extraction using manual and automated systems, routine quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) were carried out. Results obtained from swabs or their fragments were compared to results generated from EDTA blood. It was shown that reliable detection of both pathogens was possible by qPCR. Shifts in genome copy numbers were observed, but they did not change the qualitative results. In general, all swabs were suitable, but the forensic swab showed slight advantages, especially in terms of cutting and further storage. Robustness of the method was confirmed by the fact that different extraction methods and protocols as well as storage at room temperature did not have an influence on the final outcome. Taken together, swab samples could be recommended as a pragmatic approach to sample fallen wild boar.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.affiliation: Zentrales Institut des Sanitätsdienstes der Bundeswehr Kiel, Abteilung II, Veterinärmedizin, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119 Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schotte
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dräger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.affiliation: Zentrales Institut des Sanitätsdienstes der Bundeswehr Kiel, Abteilung II, Veterinärmedizin, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119 Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anheyer-Behmenburg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Goller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany. Electronic address: sandra.blome@fli.bund.de.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blome
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D006691:Classical Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
keywords: Alternative sampling; Passive surveillance; Swabs; Swine fever; Wild boar