High Temperatures and Swab Quality: Testing ASF Detection

In the battle against African swine fever (ASF), early detection is crucial. Australia's remote, hot regions are at risk due to their large feral pig populations and proximity to countries with ASF. A recent study explored whether high temperatures in these areas could affect the accuracy of dry swabs used to detect ASF virus (ASFV). Scientists tested two types of swabs: FLOQSwabs and GenoTube swabs. They exposed these swabs to high temperatures, up to 45°C, over an extended period. Surprisingly, even after this intense heat, the swabs didn't lose their sensitivity in detecting ASFV using a method called real-time PCR (qPCR).The study also looked at improving DNA extraction from GenoTube swabs. They wanted these swabs to perform as well as FLOQSwabs. The results were promising, suggesting that both types of swabs can be reliable in hot environments. This research is good news for ASF surveillance. It shows that dry swabs can be a low-cost, effective tool even in scorching conditions.