title: Diagnosis and genotyping of African swine fever viruses from 2015 outbreaks in Zambia.
abstract: In early 2015, a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs resembling African swine fever (ASF) occurred in North Western, Copperbelt, and Lusaka provinces of Zambia. Molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction targeting specific amplification of p72 (B646L) gene of ASF virus (ASFV) was conducted. Fourteen out of 16 domestic pigs from the affected provinces were found to be positive for ASFV. Phylogenetic analyses based on part of the p72 and the complete p54 (E183L) genes revealed that all the ASFVs detected belonged to genotypes I and Id, respectively. Additionally, epidemiological data suggest that the same ASFV spread from Lusaka to other provinces possibly through uncontrolled and/or illegal pig movements. Although the origin of the ASFV that caused outbreaks in domestic pigs in Zambia could not be ascertained, it appears likely that the virus may have emerged from within the country or region, probably from a sylvatic cycle. It is recommended that surveillance of ASF, strict biosecurity, and quarantine measures be imposed in order to prevent further spread and emergence of new ASF outbreaks in Zambia.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thoromo
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control, The University of Zambia. esikabala@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simulundu
authors.forename: Herman M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chambaro
authors.forename: Liywalii
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mataa
authors.forename: Caesar H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lubaba
authors.forename: Girja S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Ayato
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Misinzo
authors.forename: Aaron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mweene
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005838:Genotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: African swine fever; Asfarviridae; Molecular epidemiology; Zambia.