Genetic characterization of African swine fever virus from domestic pigs in India

African swine fever (ASF) is the most dreaded disease of pigs, which can cause mortality of up to 100%. Following disease outbreaks with high mortality in pigs in two states of north-east India, namely Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in early 2020, we confirmed the first occurrence of African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs in India by real-time PCR, virus isolation and nucleotide sequencing. Genetic analyses in three independent genomic regions (B646L gene encoding the p72 protein, E183L gene encoding the p54 protein and the central variable region (CVR) of B602L gene) showed that the Indian ASF viruses are similar to the post-2007-p72-genotype II viruses reported from Asia and Europe, suggesting the transboundary expansion of ongoing ASF outbreaks in the region.

Automated summary

African swine fever (ASF) has caused high mortality outbreaks in pigs in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, with the first confirmed cases of ASF in domestic pigs in the country. Genetic analyses show that the Indian ASF viruses are similar to post-2007-p72-genotype II viruses reported from Asia and Europe, indicating the transboundary expansion of ASF outbreaks in the region.