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UNCLASSIFIED
AM-3/The epidemiological status of
African swine fever in domestic swine
herds in the Tavush Marz region, Republic
of Armenia
Dr. Tigran Markosyan
Scientific Centre for Risk Assessment and Analysis in Food
Safety Area, SNCO,
Republic of Armenia
CBEP Science Review 2017

2. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Introduction
• Institutions
• Scientific Centre for Risk Assessment and Analysis in Food
Safety Area, SNCO, Republic of Armenia
• Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Armenia (Primary)
• Veterinary Services Center, Republic of Armenia
• Fundamental Computational and Sciences Division, Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory, USA
• Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, College of
Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of
Connecticut, USA
• Timeline
• April 2014 – June 2015
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3. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Is ASFV self-sustaining in Armenia?
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Objectives
• Establish the baseline prevalence of ASF using risk-
based surveillance in populations of domestic swine
and ticks using detailed training programs
implemented in conjunction with United States (US)
collaborators.
• Determine the presence of ASFV in ticks collected
from domestic pigs and areas where pigs reside.
• Facilitate disease prevention by representing disease
and vector surveillance data in a spatial manner
utilizing geographic information systems (GIS)
techniques that will be shared with coordinating
agencies.
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5. UNCLASSIFIED
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Locations
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• ASF outbreaks in
2007-2008 in Tavush
(2700 km2) and Lori
(both in blue circle)
• Red dots indicate
ASF spread to other
marzes after 2009
outbreak
• Heavily forested
• Main terrestrial point
of entry for foreign
traffic
• Pigs (~15K) pannage;
soft-bodied ticks are
present

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Methods
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Project initiates
US Collaborators
Participant training
Field Activities
MOA, SNCO
Sample Collection
Transport to Laboratory
Laboratory Activities
RAC, SNCO
Sample Identification
Real Time PCR ELISA
Data Processing
MOA, RAC
GIS mapping
Project Closeout
All Instituties
Data analysis and Entry
Finish Project Activities Final Report & Manuscript Development
*Example of organization
by project activity

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Highlighted Scientific Data, Results, Accomplishments
• All samples (4668) tested
were negative for ASF/
ASFV
• ASFV carriage prevalence
is less than 1% among
domestic pigs in Tavush
(considering 95% CI with 2.5%
precision and test sensitivity and
specificity at 90% and 80%
respectively)
• Role of wild pigs and
indigenous ticks in ASF
transmission in Tavush has
yet to be determined;
Ornithodorus ticks were not
found in selected areas.
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8. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Non-Scientific Results & Accomplishments
• Six RAC scientists trained by RT and
classical PCR and ELISA antibody/antigen
detection for ASFV.
• The new immunoperoxidase test was
implemented for ASF antibody detection.
• Two rooms in RAC were renovated and
appropriate equipment provided for the
performing of PCR and ELISA techniques.
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UNCLASSIFIED
AM-3 Training sessions
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UNCLASSIFIED
Next Steps
• The role of wild pigs and indigenous ticks in
ASF in this region has yet to be determined.
• The similar investigation among wild boars to
evaluate the ASF epidemiological status.
• Collect more tick samples; researchers from
other regions help to identify presence or
absence of Ornithodorus ticks in country.
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11. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Publications & Presentations
• Publications
• “The epidemiological status of African swine fever in
domestic swine herds in the Tavush Marz region,
Republic of Armenia” T. Markosyan, K. Sargsyan, S.
Kharatyan, H. Elbakyan, V. Hakobyan, L. Simonyan, H.
Voskanyan, A. Shirvanyan, T.Stepanyan, M. Khachatryan,
M. Karapetyan, A. Avagyan, R. Weller, J. Keen and G.
Risatti. – In the process of publication
• Presentations
• Oral presentation - CRWAD conference, Chicago IL, USA
2015
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