Monoclonal antibodies against African swine fever viral antigens.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for African swine fever (ASF) viral proteins of 14, 32, 73, 174, and 240 kDa were produced and characterized. Immunoelectron microscopy detected the 73 kDa but not the 14-, 32-, or 240-kDa proteins at the surface of the virion. The 32-kDa protein was detected by radioimmunoassay 2 hr after infection of porcine monocytes and Vero cells, was detected in the seven widely divergent ASFV isolates tested, and stained brilliantly virus-infected cells in indirect immunofluorescence suggesting that monoclonal antibodies directed against this protein may be useful in ASFV diagnosis. Two monoclonal antibodies detected heterogeneity between ASF viruses.