Acquiring ASF positive samples from an endemic country to test at FADDL will help to determine how these samples types and diagnostic tests can be utilized during an ASF response in the US. Samples and information will come from Romanian farms that mirror US production in housing configuration and genetics. There is an opportunity to get onto farms immediately post-infection to collect samples and information. Communication with both Romanian government officials as well as veterinarians on production sites demonstrates high Romanian motivation for collaboration. In addition, the probability of commercial sites becoming infected in Romania is high, so the expectation is that samples will be available to be shipped to FADDL for testing. The diagnostic results can then be placed into models to demonstrate how we can utilize these samples and test results in the US during an ASF outbreak to help develop and refine our surveillance protocols. Animal health officials, diagnostic laboratories, veterinarians, and producers are all working to prepare for an ASF outbreak and having surveillance protocols prior to an outbreak will help drive that effort.

Key Findings:

  • Overall, the following samples have been collected, labelled, packed and stored at -80 C:
  • 3000 blood samples collected from three farms (1000 in each farm). They were packed in stands of 100 tubes (8.5 ml each)
  • 197 samples of saliva, packed in 50 ml falcon tubes. All tubes were stored in in zip lock bags at -80 C
  • 8 samples of spleen, stored in in zip lock bags at -80 C