Key result
Laboratory analysis of samples from domestic pigs in Mongolia confirmed African swine fever virus genotype II in 100% (10/10) of samples, identical to isolates from China and Russia.
Why the study?
Following unusual mortality in domestic pigs and the first reported outbreak of African swine fever in Mongolia, an outbreak investigation was conducted to analyze and characterize the virus.
Observational (n=10)
Yes
The 2019 African swine fever outbreak in Mongolia was caused by ASFV genotype II, serogroup 8, suggesting cross-border spread from neighboring countries.
Alerts veterinarians to ASFV genotype II incursion risk; leaves open transmission routes and control strategies.
African swine fever (ASF) is a severe haemorrhagic disease of domestic and wild pigs caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). In recent years, ASF has steadily spread towards new geographical areas, reaching Europe and Asia. On January 15th, 2019, Mongolia reported its first ASF outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), becoming, after China, the second country in the region affected by the disease. Following an event of unusual mortality in domestic pigs in Bulgan Province, a field team visited four farms and a meat market in the region to conduct an outbreak investigation and collect samples for laboratory analysis. Different organs were examined for ASF associated lesions, and total nucleic acid was extracted for real-time PCR, virus isolation and molecular characterization. The real-time PCR results confirmed ASFV DNA in 10 out of 10 samples and ASFV was isolated. Phylogenetic analysis established that ASFVs from Mongolia belong to genotype II and serogroup 8. The viruses were identical to each other, and to domestic pig isolates identified in China and Russia, based on the comparison of five genomic targets. Our results suggest a cross-border spread of ASFV, without indicating the source of infection.
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Ankhanbaatar et al. (2021) conducted an observational in African swine fever (n=10). African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection was evaluated on Confirmation of ASFV DNA by real-time PCR and phylogenetic characterization. Laboratory analysis of samples from domestic pigs in Mongolia confirmed African swine fever virus genotype II in 100% (10/10) of samples, identical to isolates from China and Russia.