Sample Origin
Eighty-six EDTA blood samples were obtained from recent animal trials
conducted at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) with domestic pigs,
wild boar and minipigs infected with different ASFV strains of genotypes
I, II or X (see supporting table 1). The animal trials for strain
characterization and reference material generation were approved by the
competent animal welfare authority under reference number
7221.3-2-011/19. Blood was aliquoted and promptly frozen after sampling,
allowing high sample quality. Additionally, eleven blood samples of shot
wild boar confirmed with ASF from the affected regions in Germany were
included in the study. These animals were sampled immediately after
death, also ensuring close to ideal matrix quality. Eighty blood samples
originated from wild boar carcasses confirmed with ASF during the German
outbreak (see supporting table 2). In addition, 60 negative field
samples originating from shot wild boar of the same region were
included. These field samples had been sent to the NRL for investigation
between September 2020 and April 2021. Blood from carcasses and shot
wild boar were mainly taken by local veterinary officers at the
point-of-care and sent to the FLI (samples C17-C80 and negative field
samples from shot animals), or was obtained during necropsy of the wild
boar cadavers directly at the high containment facilities at the FLI
(samples C1-C16, see supporting tables 2 and 3). Carcass-derived blood
samples were in various stages of decomposition and impaired by clotting
and/or autolysis. Field samples C17-C80, negative wild boar samples, and
samples H81-H91, which the NRL received prior to the start of the study
or in which LFA testing could not immediately be conducted, were stored
at -80° C before investigations. Samples C1-C16 could be obtained during
necropsy and were tested before, and, for comparison, after
freeze-thawing (see supporting table 3).