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Penrith ML, van Emmenes J, Hakizimana JN, Heath L, Kabuuka T, Misinzo G, Odoom T, Wade A, Zerbo HL, Luka PD. African Swine Fever Diagnosis in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Pathogens 2024; 13:296. [PMID: 38668251 PMCID: PMC11054189 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The global spread of African swine fever (ASF) in recent decades has led to the need for technological advances in sampling and diagnostic techniques. The impetus for these has been the need to enable sampling by lay persons and to obtain at least a preliminary diagnosis in the field for early control measures to be put in place before final laboratory confirmation. In rural Africa, rapid diagnosis is hampered by challenges that include lack of infrastructure as well as human and financial resources. Lack of animal health personnel, access to affordable means to transport field samples to a laboratory, and lack of laboratories with the capacity to make the diagnosis result in severe under-reporting of ASF, especially in endemic areas. This review summarizes the challenges identified in gap analyses relevant to low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on Africa, and explore the opportunities provided by recent research to improve field diagnosis and quality of diagnostic samples used. Sampling techniques include invasive sampling techniques requiring trained personnel and non-invasive sampling requiring minimal training, sampling of decomposed carcass material, and preservation of samples in situations where cold chain maintenance cannot be guaranteed. Availability and efficacy of point-of-care (POC) tests for ASF has improved considerably in recent years and their application, as well as advantages and limitations, are discussed. The adequacy of existing laboratory diagnostic capacity is evaluated and opportunities for networking amongst reference and other laboratories offering diagnostic services are discussed. Maintaining laboratory diagnostic efficiency in the absence of samples during periods of quiescence is another issue that requires attention, and the role of improved laboratory networking is emphasized. Early diagnosis of ASF is key to managing the disease spread. Therefore, the establishment of the Africa Chapter of the Global African Swine Fever Research Alliance (GARA) increases opportunities for collaboration and networking among the veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Louise Penrith
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
| | - Juanita van Emmenes
- Transboundary Animal Diseases, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; (J.v.E.); (L.H.)
| | - Jean N. Hakizimana
- SACIDS Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3297, Tanzania; (J.N.H.); (G.M.)
| | - Livio Heath
- Transboundary Animal Diseases, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; (J.v.E.); (L.H.)
| | - Tonny Kabuuka
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, Entebbe P.O. Box 295, Uganda;
| | - Gerald Misinzo
- SACIDS Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3297, Tanzania; (J.N.H.); (G.M.)
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3019, Tanzania
| | - Theophilus Odoom
- Veterinary Services Directorate, Accra Veterinary Laboratory, Accra P.O. Box M161, Ghana;
| | - Abel Wade
- National Veterinary Laboratory (LANAVET), Garoua P.O. Box 503, Cameroon;
| | - Habibata L. Zerbo
- Ministry of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Ouagadougou 03 BP 907, Burkina Faso;
| | - Pam D. Luka
- Biotechnology Centre, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 1, Vom 930103, Nigeria
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Embury-Hyatt C, Moffat E, Zhmendak D, Erdelyan CNG, Collignon B, Goonewardene K, Ambagala A, Yang M. Generation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against an African swine fever virus protein encoded by the A137R gene. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1286906. [PMID: 37929283 PMCID: PMC10621787 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1286906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing African swine fever (ASF) pandemic continues to have a major impact on global pork production and trade. Since ASF cannot be distinguished from other swine hemorrhagic fevers clinically, ASF-specific laboratory diagnosis is critical. Thus ASF virus (ASFV)-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are critical for the development of laboratory diagnostics. In this study, we report one ASFV-specific mAb, F88ASF-55, that was generated and characterized. This mAb recognizes the ASFV A137R-encoded protein (pA137R). Epitope mapping results revealed a highly conserved linear epitope recognized by this mAb, corresponding to amino acids 111-125 of pA137R. We explored the potential use of this mAb in diagnostic applications. Using F88ASF-55 as the detection antibody, six ASFV strains were detected in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with low background. In immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays, this mAb specifically recognized ASFV antigens in the submandibular lymph nodes of animals experimentally infected with different ASFV strains. Although not all ASFV genotypes were tested in this study, based on the conserved ASFV epitope targeted by F88ASF-55, it has the potential to detect multiple ASFV genotypes. In conclusion, this newly generated ASFV pA137R-specific mAb has potential value in ASF diagnostic tool development. It can be used in ELISA, IHC, and possibly-immunochromatographic strip assays for ASFV detection. It also suggests that pA137R may be a good target for diagnostic assays to detect ASFV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Aruna Ambagala
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ming Yang
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Poonsuk K, Loy D, Birn R, Buss B, Donahue M, Nordeen T, Sinclair K, Meduna L, Brodersen B, Loy JD. DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES IN RETROPHARYNGEAL LYMPH NODE EXUDATES OF WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) FROM NEBRASKA, USA. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:702-708. [PMID: 37768779 PMCID: PMC10913095 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Disease surveillance testing for emerging zoonotic pathogens in wildlife is a key component in understanding the epidemiology of these agents and potential risk to human populations. Recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, and subsequent detection of this virus in wildlife, highlights the need for developing new One Health surveillance strategies. We used lymph node exudate, a sample type that is routinely collected in hunter-harvested white-tailed deer (WTD, Odocoileus virginianus) for surveillance of chronic wasting disease, to assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. A total of 132 pairs of retropharyngeal lymph nodes collected from Nebraska WTD harvested in Nebraska, US, in 2019 (pre-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic) and 2021 (post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 with reverse transcription PCR. Thereafter, exudates obtained from these same lymph nodes were tested for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in the exudates with high diagnostic specificity (100% at proposed cutoff of 40% inhibition). Application of this testing approach to samples collected for use in other disease surveillance activities may provide additional epidemiological data on SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and there is further potential to apply this sample type to detection of other pathogens of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korakrit Poonsuk
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4040 E. Campus Loop N, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - Duan Loy
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4040 E. Campus Loop N, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - Rachael Birn
- Division of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 301 Centennial Mall S, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, USA
- Council State and Territorial Epidemiologists, 2635 Century Pkwy NE no. 700, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, USA
| | - Bryan Buss
- Division of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 301 Centennial Mall S, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, USA
- Division of State and Local Readiness, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA
| | - Matthew Donahue
- Division of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 301 Centennial Mall S, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, USA
| | - Todd Nordeen
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - Kylie Sinclair
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - Luke Meduna
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - Bruce Brodersen
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4040 E. Campus Loop N, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - John Dustin Loy
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4040 E. Campus Loop N, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
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Afe AE, Shen ZJ, Guo X, Zhou R, Li K. African Swine Fever Virus Interaction with Host Innate Immune Factors. Viruses 2023; 15:1220. [PMID: 37376520 DOI: 10.3390/v15061220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV) adversely affects pig farming owing to its 100% mortality rate. The condition is marked by elevated body temperature, bleeding, and ataxia in domestic pigs, whereas warthogs and ticks remain asymptomatic despite being natural reservoirs for the virus. Breeding ASFV-resistant pigs is a promising solution for eradicating this disease. ASFV employs several mechanisms to deplete the host antiviral response. This review explores the interaction of ASFV proteins with innate host immunity and the various types of machinery encompassed by viral proteins that inhibit and induce different signaling pathways, such as cGAS-STING, NF-κB, Tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β), ubiquitination, viral inhibition of apoptosis, and resistance to ASFV infection. Prospects for developing a domestic pig that is resistant to ASFV are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoola Ebenezer Afe
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhao-Ji Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaorong Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Foshan University, Foshan 528231, China
| | - Rong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kui Li
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
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Okwasiimire R, Nassali A, Ndoboli D, Ekakoro JE, Faburay B, Wampande E, Havas KA. Comparison of diaphragm meat juice and muscle swab samples to spleen and spleen swab samples for the detection of African swine fever viral nucleic acid. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023; 35:145-152. [PMID: 36694917 PMCID: PMC9999393 DOI: 10.1177/10406387231151663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Use of meat juice and muscle swabs at slaughterhouses may provide an easy-to-collect sample for African swine fever (ASF) surveillance. Meat juice has been experimentally shown to be a reliable sample for the detection of ASF virus (ASFV). We compared the detection of ASFV nucleic acid from diaphragm meat juice, diaphragm muscle swab, spleen, and spleen swabs from pigs with signs of ASFV infection at slaughterhouses around Kampala, Uganda. Pigs with ≥2 clinical or pathology signs at the time of slaughter had a spleen sample, spleen swab, diaphragm muscle sample, and diaphragm muscle swab collected. Meat juice was collected from muscle samples through a freeze-thaw cycle. Each sample was tested individually, and 72 spleen, meat juice, and muscle swab sample pools of 4 negative and 1 positive sample were tested, as well. Standard operating procedures from the USDA-Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for viral DNA extraction and real-time PCR (rtPCR) were used. Of the 493 pigs evaluated, we classified as positive 357 (72.4%) diaphragm meat juice samples, 218 (44.2%) diaphragm muscle swabs, 247 (50.1%) spleen samples, and 241 (48.9%) spleen swabs. All spleen sample pools were positive (72 of 72; 100%), as were 71 of 72 (98.6%) meat juice pools and 67 of 72 (93.1%) muscle swab pools. Meat juice samples provided a reliable sample type for the detection by rtPCR of ASFV in pigs with natural infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney Okwasiimire
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Aisha Nassali
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dickson Ndoboli
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John E. Ekakoro
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Bonto Faburay
- Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY, USA
| | - Edward Wampande
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Karyn A. Havas
- Pipestone Research, Pipestone Holdings, Pipestone, MN, USA
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Onyilagha C, Nguyen K, Luka PD, Hussaini U, Adedeji A, Odoom T, Ambagala A. Evaluation of a Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid Detection of African Swine Fever Virus in Multiple Sample Types. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020138. [PMID: 35215082 PMCID: PMC8877915 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody-based lateral flow assay (LFA) is a quick and inexpensive tool used to detect pathogens in field samples, especially in hard-to-reach remote areas that may have limited access to central laboratories during an outbreak or surveillance. In this study, we investigated the ability of a commercially available LFA, PenCheck®, to detect African swine fever virus (ASFV) in clinical samples derived from pigs infected with highly virulent ASFV strains. The assay was specific and positively identified the majority of pigs showing high fever during the early stages (between 3 and 5 days) of infection. PenCheck® LFA also detected ASFV in serum and tissue samples collected from pigs that succumbed to experimental ASFV infection and whole blood, plasma, and tissue samples from the field. The limit of detection of the assay was ASFV titer 107.80 TCID50/mL, corresponding to ASFV real-time PCR values below 23 Ct. Although the sensitivity of the assay is less than that of the laboratory-based real-time PCR assays, the results obtained with the PenCheck® LFA in this study suggest that it can be used as a herd-level, field-deployable, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool to identify ASF-affected farms when access to portable molecular assays or central laboratories is not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwunonso Onyilagha
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M4, Canada; (C.O.); (K.N.)
| | - Kelvin Nguyen
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M4, Canada; (C.O.); (K.N.)
| | - Pam D. Luka
- Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B 01, Vom 930001, Plateau, Nigeria; (P.D.L.); (U.H.); (A.A.)
| | - Ularamu Hussaini
- Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B 01, Vom 930001, Plateau, Nigeria; (P.D.L.); (U.H.); (A.A.)
| | - Adeyinka Adedeji
- Virology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B 01, Vom 930001, Plateau, Nigeria; (P.D.L.); (U.H.); (A.A.)
| | - Theophilus Odoom
- Accra Laboratory, Veterinary Services Directorate, Accra P.O. Box M161, Ghana;
| | - Aruna Ambagala
- National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M4, Canada; (C.O.); (K.N.)
- Department of Comparative Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-204-789-2013
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