Isolation and Characterization of African Swine Fever Virus: Initial Efforts Toward the Development of a Killed Vaccine

African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most complex viral diseases in pigs. It is highly contagious, with morbidity and mortality rates reaching up to 100%, causing significant socio-economic impacts. The disease was first discovered in Africa in 1921, spread to Europe in 1957, and to Asia in 2010. The declaration of an ASF outbreak in Indonesia in 2019, starting in Sumatra and followed by cases in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and Timor Leste, clearly underscores the serious threat posed by this disease. Currently, there is no reliable vaccine available to combat ASF, so emergency measures rely on early detection and the implementation of strict sanitation procedures, including mass culling of infected pigs. However, the rapid spread of the disease indicates that these measures are clearly insufficient to control the ongoing pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for the development of an effective vaccine. The causative agent of ASF is the ASF virus (ASFV), from the Asfarviridae family. It has a double-stranded DNA genome and is highly stable under extreme environmental conditions, making it easily transmissible. The lack of an optimal vaccine is mainly due to the complexity of the virus and technical difficulties in developing one. Current vaccines contain either a live attenuated virus or molecular components of ASFV. However, using live viruses carries risks, as the virus may revert to its virulent form (persistent viremia). Molecular vaccines such as recombinant protein or DNA vaccines have also not been fully effective, likely because they do not contain the full range of ASFV proteins necessary for synergistic protection. This research aims to isolate and characterize a local ASFV isolate from Bali (B12D) using tissue culture techniques. The isolate will then be used as a candidate for a killed vaccine, which contains the complete protein structure of ASFV and is chemically inactivated, making it potentially safer and more protective. This research will be conducted at the Denpasar Veterinary Center in collaboration with local partners.