title: Evaluation of a Commercial Field Test to Detect African Swine Fever.
abstract: African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most important and complex infectious diseases affecting pigs ( Sus scrofa ). The disease has been present in Sardinia, Italy, since 1978. Factors influencing the presence of the disease on the island are the presence of illegally bred pigs, uncontrolled movements of animals, and local traditions. Implementation of public health programs is essential for controlling ASF. The use of new diagnostic techniques on both wild boar (WB) and illegally bred pigs would provide tools for faster and more inexpensive control of the disease. We evaluated a commercial serological test kit (Pen-side [PS]) for use in the field. We sampled 113 hunter-harvested WB during the 2014-15 season, collecting blood and lung samples to conduct serological analyses and to screen for the ASF virus. Although the sensitivity (81.8%) and specificity (95.9%) of tests performed in the field were reduced compared to the same test in laboratory, they nevertheless allowed for rapid diagnosis and reduced unnecessary carcass destruction. The test, conducted in the field, was less expensive than in the laboratory and required less manpower. Therefore, we conclude that the combined use of antibody PS test and antigen PS test may be a valuable emergency management method during an outbreak as well as a useful tool for conducting regular monitoring activities as a preventive policy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappai
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coccollone
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.affiliation: 2 Azienda Sanitaria Locale, n°7 Carbonia-Iglesias, Via Dalmazia 83, 09013, Carbonia, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dettori
authors.affiliation: 3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feliziani
authors.affiliation: 4 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi", Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: 4 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi", Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oggiano
authors.affiliation: 1 Osservatorio Epidemiologico Veterinario Regionale (OEVR), Centro di Sorveglianza Epidemiologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi," Via XX Settembre 9, 09125, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rolesu
mesh_terms: D000357:African Swine Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D007558:Italy; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine
keywords: African Swine Fever; Pen-side; antibody; control strategy; risk; wild boar