Platelet and fibrinogen kinetics in healthy and African swine fever-affected swine: [75Se]selenomethionine-labeling study.

Platelet and fibrinogen survival times were determined in healthy pigs and in pigs infected with African swine fever (ASF) virus. Cohort labeling with [75Se]selenomethionine was performed. The platelet survival time in healthy pigs was 5.3 +/- 0.7 days, and the fibrinogen survival time was 6.7 +/- 0.8 days. Early deaths and profound thrombocytopenia prevented calculation of accurate platelet and fibrinogen survival times in ASF virus-infected animals. The ASF virus-infected pigs died of extensive hemorrhage and effusions while thrombocytopenic; however, there was normal thrombocytopoiesis during infection, as measured by incorporation of the radionuclide into platelets. There was a slight decrease in plasma fibrinogen concentration when the platelet count decreased. A dysfunctional fibrinogen was present late in the infection.