Article

Detection of novel sequences related to african Swine Fever virus in human serum and sewage.

Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., Box 8118, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Journal of Virology (impact factor: 5.4). 10/2009; 83(24):13019-25. DOI:10.1128/JVI.00638-09
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The family Asfarviridae contains only a single virus species, African swine fever virus (ASFV). ASFV is a viral agent with significant economic impact due to its devastating effects on populations of domesticated pigs during outbreaks but has not been reported to infect humans. We report here the discovery of novel viral sequences in human serum and sewage which are clearly related to the asfarvirus family but highly divergent from ASFV. Detection of these sequences suggests that greater genetic diversity may exist among asfarviruses than previously thought and raises the possibility that human infection by asfarviruses may occur.

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Keywords

African swine fever virus
 
asfarvirus family
 
asfarviruses
 
devastating effects
 
divergent
 
domesticated pigs
 
greater genetic diversity
 
human infection
 
human serum
 
infect humans
 
novel viral sequences
 
sequences
 
significant economic impact
 
single virus species
 
viral agent
 

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