African swine fever virus isolate, Georgia, 2007

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1870-4. doi: 10.3201/eid1412.080591.

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is widespread in Africa but is rarely introduced to other continents. In June 2007, ASF was confirmed in the Caucasus region of Georgia, and it has since spread to neighboring countries. DNA fragments amplified from the genome of the isolates from domestic pigs in Georgia in 2007 were sequenced and compared with other ASF virus (ASFV) isolates to establish the genotype of the virus. Sequences were obtained from 4 genome regions, including part of the gene B646L that encodes the p72 capsid protein, the complete E183L and CP204L genes, which encode the p54 and p30 proteins and the variable region of the B602L gene. Analysis of these sequences indicated that the Georgia 2007 isolate is closely related to isolates belonging to genotype II, which is circulating in Mozambique, Madagascar, and Zambia. One possibility for the spread of disease to Georgia is that pigs were fed ASFV-contaminated pork brought in on ships and, subsequently, the disease was disseminated throughout the region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • African Swine Fever / epidemiology*
  • African Swine Fever / virology
  • African Swine Fever Virus* / classification
  • African Swine Fever Virus* / genetics
  • African Swine Fever Virus* / isolation & purification
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Genotype
  • Georgia (Republic) / epidemiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sus scrofa / virology*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins
  • capsid protein p72, African swine fever virus
  • p54 protein, African swine fever virus
  • P30 protein, African Swine Fever Virus