African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular characterization of African swine fever virus in apparently healthy domestic pigs in Uganda

David Kalenzi Atuhaire*
  • David Kalenzi Atuhaire*
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda; National Agricultural Research Organization, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O.BOX 96, Tororo, Uganda.
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Sylvester Ochwo
  • Sylvester Ochwo
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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Mathias Afayoa
  • Mathias Afayoa
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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Savannah Mwesigwa
  • Savannah Mwesigwa
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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Frank Norbert Mwiine
  • Frank Norbert Mwiine
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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Julius Boniface Okuni
  • Julius Boniface Okuni
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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William Olaho-Mukani
  • William Olaho-Mukani
  • African Union Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources, P.O.BOX 30786, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Lonzy Ojok
  • Lonzy Ojok
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O.BOX 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
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  •  Received: 19 April 2014
  •  Accepted: 02 June 2014
  •  Published: 18 June 2014

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal and economically significant disease of domestic pigs in Uganda where outbreaks regularly occur. There is neither a vaccine nor treatment available for ASF control. Twenty two African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotypes (I - XXII) have been identified based on partial sequencing of the C-terminus of the major capsid protein p72 encoded by the B646L gene. The majority of previously characterized Ugandan ASFV strains belong to genotype IX. The major aim of the current study was to determine the ASFV genotypes among asymptomatic slaughter pigs at Wambizi slaughterhouse and in some parts of the country where surveillance was done. Three discrete regions of the ASFV were analysed in the genomes of viruses detected in asymptomatic domestic pigs. The analysis was conducted by genotyping based on sequence data from three single copy ASFV genes. The E183L gene encoding the structural protein P54 and part of the gene encoding the p72 protein were used to delineate genotypes, before intra-genotypic resolution of viral relationships by analysis of tetramer amino acid repeats within the hypervariable central variable region (CVR) of the B602L gene. All the ASF viruses obtained from this study clustered with previous viruses in genotype IX based on analysis of the p72 and P54 genes. Analysis of the CVR gene grouped the viruses in three different subgroups; 13, 23 and 25. Only one genotype is circulating in Uganda among asymptomatic domestic pigs and it is the same virus causing outbreaks in the country and parts of neighbouring Kenya.

 

Key words: African swine fever virus, asymptomatic, slaughterhouse, P54, p72, CVR gene, genotypes.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: ASF, African swine fever; CVR, central variable region; ASFV, African swine fever virus.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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