ASFV p72 Genotype IX in Domestic Pigs | CDC EID::Volume 17, Number 8–August 2011

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Volume 17, Number 8–August 2011
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African Swine Fever Virus p72 Genotype IX in Domestic Pigs, Congo, 2009

Carmina Gallardo, Comments to Author Raquel Anchuelo, Virginia Pelayo, Frédéric Poudevigne, Tati Leon, Jacques Nzoussi, Richard Bishop, Covadonga Pérez, Alejandro Soler, Raquel Nieto, Hilario Martín, and Marisa Arias

Author affiliations: Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain (C. Gallardo, V. Pelayo, C. Pérez, A. Soler, R. Nieto, H. Martín, M. Arias); International Livestock Research Institute, Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya (R. Anchuelo, R. Bishop); United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Bamako, Mali (F. Poudevigne); and Conseiller à l'Elevage du Ministre de l'Agriculture et de l'Elevage, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo (T. Leon, J. Nzoussi)

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Abstract
African swine fever virus p72 genotype IX, associated with outbreaks in eastern Africa, is cocirculating in the Republic of the Congo with West African genotype I. Data suggest that viruses from eastern Africa are moving into western Africa, increasing the threat of outbreaks caused by novel viruses in this region.

African swine fever (ASF) is a serious disease of domestic pigs caused by a DNA arbovirus (African swine fever virus [ASFV]) belonging to the family Asfaviridae (1). Its highly contagious nature and ability to spread over long distances make it 1 of the most feared diseases of pigs; it causes devastating effects on pig production as manifested in the Caucasus since its introduction from southeastern Africa during 2007 (2). Considerable spread of ASF has been reported in western Africa during the past 20 years, and, except for in Côte d'Ivoire, the disease remains endemic (3). Because discernible ASFV serotypes are lacking, the field strains are grouped genetically by using sequencing of the C-terminus of the p72 protein, which discriminates 22 genotypes (4,5). Genotype I is historically associated with outbreaks in western Africa, whereas viruses from southern and eastern Africa have higher heterogeneity, with all 22 known genotypes having been recorded within the region (5–7).

The Republic of the Congo, located in western-central sub-Saharan Africa, shares borders with the Cabinda enclave of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Gabon. The last ASF outbreaks in Congo were reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) during 2003. Since then, the disease has been officially declared endemic but without quantitative data. Sampling and characterization of currently circulating field strains from this region of western-central Africa are needed to fully understand virus spread and maintenance. Such data will have implications for regional control in western Africa.

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Suggested Citation for this Article

Gallardo C, Anchuelo R, Pelayo V, Poudevigne F, Leon T, Nzoussi J, et al. African swine fever virus p72 genotype IX in domestic pigs, Congo, 2009. Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Aug [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/8/101877.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1708.101877

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Carmina Gallardo, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Ctra Algete el Casar s/n. Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain; email: gallardo@inia.es