Molecular Characterization of ASFV and Differential Diagnosis of Erysipelothrix in ASFV-Infected Pigs in Pig Production Regions in Cameroon

SIMPLE SUMMARY: African swine fever (ASF, a viral infection) and swine erysipelas (a bacterial infection) are two devastating diseases with similar manifestations causing huge economic losses to the pig industry. Vaccination besides adequate biosecurity is useful in controlling swine erysipelas but not ASF, as there is neither a vaccine nor an antiviral drug against the disease. Our focus was to extensively characterize the ASF virus (ASFV) isolates and to identify the Erysipelothrix species circulating in ASFV-infected pigs in Cameroon. Specifically to resolve the intragenomic relatedness (PCR-based genotyping) amongst the ASFV isolates and to differentiate between E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum in ASFV-infected pigs. Randomly, we collected 377 samples (blood and tissue) from pig farms and pig slaughter slabs within the major pig production regions. We found that all ASFV isolates belong to Genotype I and contain a single GGAATATATA repeat, that two variants with 19 (ABNAAAACBNABTDBNAFA) and six (ABNAFA) tandem repeat sequences exist, and that 97.30% of isolates belong to serogroup IV. In addition, only E. tonsillarum (an avirulent species) and not E. rhusiopathiae (virulent species) was detected in all the ASFV-infected samples. Continuous characterisation of the ASFV isolates within Cameroon is necessary for designing effective control measures and future potential ASFV vaccine candidates. ABSTRACT: African swine fever and swine erysipelas are two devastating diseases with similar manifestations ravaging the domestic pig industry. Only a single phylogenetic study has been carried out in Cameroon, and neither an extensive genotyping aimed at identifying the different serotypes nor has an appropriate differential diagnosis of different species of Erysipelothrix has been effected in ASF-infected animals. Of the 377 blood or tissue samples randomly collected from pig farms and slaughter slabs from January to August 2020, 120 were positive for ASFV (by PCR), giving a prevalence of 31.83%. Intragenomic resolution through sequencing divulged the presence of genotypes I, and Ia, two variants with 19 (ABNAAAACBNABTDBNAFA) and six (ABNAFA) tandem repeat sequences (TRS), serotype IV, and a single GGAATATATA repeat. The sole presence of E. tonsillarum (avirulent species) and not E. rhusiopathiae (virulent species) indicates that the severity observed during the 2020 ASF outbreak in the sampled regions was exclusively due to ASFV genotype I infection. Such characterisations are necessary for designing effective control measures and future potential vaccine candidates.