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Researchers find pig gene needed for ASF virus
ASF is a fast-acting and severe virus which causes widespread illness and death.

The gene may lead to development of pigs resistant to infection.

Researchers have identified a gene in pigs’ DNA which is needed for African Swine Fever (ASF) to replicate.

The discovery of this gene, which is involved in the pig immune system, could lead to the development of pigs that are resistant to ASF.

ASF is a fast-acting and severe virus which causes widespread illness and death, and has caused high losses for the pork industry.

The infection has already killed more than 200 million pigs worldwide, and is currently a major issue across Asia. It has the potential to cause outbreaks in Europe and America.

There is currently no vaccine or treatment available.

The finding raises the potential of amending the gene, using gene editing, to develop ASF-resistant pigs.

The research was led by the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute in Germany alongside the Roslin Institute, which is part of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The researchers examined a collection of pig cells, with each cell edited to lack a specific gene, to investigate how they responded to the ASF virus.

This analysis identified a suite of genes, known as the MHC-II complex, which produce proteins that are associated with the immune response to infections that were key to the virus.

This led them to a single protein in the MHC-II complex known as SLA-DM, which was essential to the replication of the virus in the cells.

The group hopes that editing this gene may allow for the development of pigs which are resistant to ASF, to mitigate the impact of the virus.

They believe that further research should aim to understand the biological processes in which SLA-DM proteins and virus particles interact.

Dr Finn Grey, of the Roslin Institute, said: “Our study identifies target genes for editing to develop pigs resistant to African Swine Fever.

“Although more work is required, this finding represents an important first step towards the generation of ASF-resistant pigs.”

The full study can be found in the Scientific Reports journal.

Image © Shutterstock

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
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NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.