title: Pathological and molecular diagnosis of the 2013 African swine fever outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia.
abstract: African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic pigs. The disease is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and has repeatedly been introduced into other continents. The current study describes the diagnostic investigations of a hemorrhagic disease that was reported in pigs in Lusaka (October 2013), Zambia. Necropsy, histopathology, and molecular diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis confirmed the disease to be ASF. The sequences obtained showed high similarity to previously isolated ASF viruses. Consistent surveillance and rapid diagnosis of the disease is recommended to prevent future outbreaks and economic losses as there is currently no vaccine against the disease.
authors.affiliation: The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia, mjyabe@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yabe
authors.forename: Pharaoh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamambulu
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simulundu
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.forename: Akina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori-Kajihara
authors.forename: Katendi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Changula-Chitanga
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mwase
authors.forename: Mutinta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mweemba-Muwowo
authors.forename: Herman Moses
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chambaro
authors.forename: Liywalii
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mataa
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hang'ombe
authors.forename: Bonniface
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Namangala
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fandamu
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Ayato
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Aaron Simanyengwe
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mweene
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology