African Swine Fever Virus

African swine fever is a large, icosahedral, linear double-stranded DNA virus and the only member of the family Asfarviridae, genus Asfivirus. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is maintained in Africa via a complex transmission cycle involving African wild suid species, soft ticks, and domestic pigs. ASFV is transmitted within Europe most often directly via contact between sick and healthy animals, including domestic pigs and wild boar. The sites of primary ASFV replication are the monocytes and macrophages of the lymph nodes nearest the point of virus entry. The most convenient, safe, and frequently used techniques to detect and identify ASFV are the polymerase chain reaction. The serological diagnosis of ASF plays an important role in the surveillance program due to the fact that no vaccine is currently available against ASFV and, therefore, the presence of anti-ASFV antibodies in an animal indicates infection.