Development and application of a duplex real-time PCR assay for differentiation of genotypes I and II African swine fever viruses.

Genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been plaguing Chinese pig industry and caused severe morbidity and mortality of pigs resulting in huge economic losses since its first report in August 2018. Most recently, two genotype I ASFVs with low virulence but efficient transmissibility in pigs were reported in China, which makes the diagnosis and control of this lethal disease more challenging. Therefore, it is prerequisite and important to differentiate genotype I from genotype II upon ASFV outbreaks before making any stringent control procedures.