IN-VIVO REPLICATION OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS (MALAWI 83) IN NEUTROPHILS

The presence of Virus replication centers in neutrophils from pigs ino culated with a highly virulent strain of African swine fever virus is described for the first time in vivo. Virus antigens were observed fro m 3 days post-inoculation (dpi) onwards by means of an immunohistochem ical technique. At this time (3 dpi), transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the presence of large amounts of neutrophils in the vascular lumens. At 5 and 7 dpi, neutrophils with phagosomes frequentl y contained virus particles. In addition, within the cytoplasm of some mature and immature neutrophils, both viral particles and virus repli cation centers were observed at 5 and 7 dpi.