Key Points
- Determine the timing, routes, and concentrations of viral excretion in domestic pigs infected with two virulent strains of African swine fever virus.
- Domestic pigs were infected intranasally or via direct contact with two virulent African swine fever virus strains with mean death times of approximately 3 and 6 days (including a recent warthog isolate).
- Daily collections of nasopharyngeal, conjunctival, urogenital, fecal, and urinary samples were evaluated to determine viral titers alongside monitoring the onset of pyrexia.
- Viral shedding predominantly began through the nasopharyngeal route 1 to 2 days prior to fever onset, with pharyngeal and nasal swab titers rising rapidly to mean levels of 10^4 to 10^5 HAD 50 within 48 to 72 hours after pyrexia.
- Conjunctival and urogenital tract secretions appeared later with lower titers, while fecal and urinary viral excretion remained minimal except in slower infections caused by the recent warthog strain.
Structured PICO
PPopulationDomestic pigs infected intranasally or by contact with African swine fever (ASF) virus
IInterventionInfection with two virulent strains of African swine fever virus (mean death times of approximately 3 and 6 days)
OOutcomeViral excretion routes and titers over timesurrogate
African swine fever virus is primarily excreted via the nasopharyngeal route early in infection, often before the onset of fever.