Genetic characterization of African swine fever viruses circulating in North Central region of Vietnam

Since the first outbreak of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in China in 2018, the disease has spread to Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. ASFV was officially reported in Vietnam on 19 February 2019. The continued spread of ASFV has occurred in the whole country within 7 months. The phylogenetic analysis showed that ASFVs isolated in the North Central region of Vietnam belong to genotype II and serotype 8. Additionally, tandem repeat sequence (TRS) studies indicated that these ASFVs are very close to ASFV strains detected in China and Belgium, 2018, and differ from ASFV isolated in Georgia in 2007.

Automated summary

Since the first outbreak of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in China in 2018, the disease has rapidly spread to several countries including Vietnam. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ASFVs isolated in the North Central region of Vietnam belong to genotype II and serotype 8. Furthermore, tandem repeat sequence (TRS) studies indicated a close relationship between these ASFVs and strains detected in China and Belgium in 2018, but differ from ASFV isolated in Georgia in 2007.