African swine fever (ASF), a severe infectious disease affecting domestic and wild pigs and causing significant economic loss to the pig production is spreading in the world. African swine fever virus is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Asfivirus family.

The initial research results analyzed by the Key Laboratory for Veterinary Biotechnology (KLVB), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, show that samples collected from the pestholes in Hung Yen and Thai Binh have been detected positive to African swine fever virus by PCR and Realtime PCR techniques. The KLVB has also successfully sequenced the genes encoding P54 and P72 of AFS virus samples taken from Hung Yen and Thai Binh. The sequencing results reveal that the homology of nucleotides and amino acids of the two genes with the ASF virus that are expanding in China is 100% (isolated ASF viruses in Hung Yen and Thai Binh are 100% identical to each other and identical to AFS virus in China).

Currently, the scientists of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, are carrying more in-depth and thorough research on African swine fever virus with the aim of assisting the disease prevention and treatment of the Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

MAJOR RESEARCH FINDINGS

ASF diagnosis using PCR techniques

(sample 1: sample dimension 656bp, sample 2: sample dimension 276bp)

 

Demonstration of AFS diagnosis by Realtime PCR techniques (sample 1 ct=18, sample 2 ct=16)


ADN sequence of isolated ASF virus and Chinese strain