Transovarial Infection with African Swine Fever Virus in the Argasid Tick, Ornithodoros Moubata Porcinus, Walton

Abstract

Adult ticks (Ornithodoros moubata porcinus) collected from warthog burrows were tested for infection by examining their excretions for African swine fever virus (ASFV). All of 3 infected females ticks from one burrow transmitted virus to their eggs and nymphal offspring and filial infection rates were high (55- 81%). Nymphae infected transovarially transmitted virus regularly by feeding on pigs. Four pools of unfed first-stage nymphal ticks, collected from warthog burrows, contained ASFV. Transovarial infection of the tick is one of the natural maintenances mechallisms for ASFV