Torresi Claudia, Biccheri Roberta, Cammà Cesare, Gallardo Carmina, Marcacci Maurilia, Zoppi Simona, Secondini Barbara, Riverso Caterina, Soler Alejandro, Casciari Cristina, Pela Michela, Rossi Elisabetta, Pellegrini Claudia, Iscaro Carmen, Feliziani Francesco, Giammarioli Monica
National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Swine Fever, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", 06126 Perugia, Italy.
National Reference Center for Whole Genome Sequencing of Microbial Pathogens, Database and Bioinformatic Analysis (GENPAT), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Pathogens. 2025 Jan 10;14(1):51. doi: 10.3390/pathogens14010051.
African swine fever (ASF), characterized by high mortality rates in infected animals, remains a significant global veterinary and economic concern, due to the widespread distribution of ASF virus (ASFV) genotype II across five continents. In this study, ASFV strains collected in Italy during 2022-2023 from two geographical clusters, North-West (Alessandria) and Calabria, were fully sequenced. In addition, an in vivo experiment in pigs was performed. Complete genomic sequencing of 30 strains revealed large-fragment deletions and translocations. In Alessandria, five samples showed two different deletions in the 5' genomic region: a ~4340 bp deletion (positions ~9020-13,356 in Georgia 2007/1) in four samples and a 2162 bp deletion (positions 17,837-19,998) in one sample. Another strain showed a truncation of 1950 bp at the 3' end. In Calabria, strains showed a 5137 bp deletion (positions 10,755-15,891) and ~2 kb truncations in the 3' region. Two strains showed a translocation from the region 1-2244 to positions 188,631-190,584. In vivo characterization of the deleted strain 22489.4_2312/RC/2023 revealed identical disease progression to the wild-type strain, with severe ASF symptoms in inoculated pigs. This study is the first to report natural deleted strains of ASFV in Italy, revealing unique genomic deletions distinct from those in previously known strains.
非洲猪瘟（ASF），其特征是感染动物的死亡率很高，仍然是一个重大的全球兽医和经济问题，这是由于ASF病毒（ASFV）基因型II在五大洲广泛传播所致。在本研究中，对2022年至2023年期间在意大利从两个地理集群，即西北部（亚历山德里亚）和卡拉布里亚收集的ASFV毒株进行了全基因组测序。此外，还在猪身上进行了一项体内实验。对30个毒株的全基因组测序揭示了大片段的缺失和易位。在亚历山德里亚，五个样本在5'基因组区域显示出两种不同的缺失：四个样本中存在一个约4340 bp的缺失（在格鲁吉亚2007/1中位置约为9020-13,356），一个样本中存在2162 bp的缺失（位置17,837-19,998）。另一个毒株在3'端显示出1950 bp的截短。在卡拉布里亚，毒株显示出5137 bp的缺失（位置10,755-15,891）和3'区域约2 kb的截短。两个毒株显示出从区域1-2244到位置188,631-190,584的易位。对缺失毒株22489.4_2312/RC/2023的体内特征分析显示，其疾病进展与野生型毒株相同，接种猪出现严重的ASF症状。本研究首次报告了意大利ASFV的天然缺失毒株，揭示了与先前已知毒株不同的独特基因组缺失。
