ASF pathogen stable at low temperatures
The studies included grasses, as well as silage from grass, hay, bark, peat and wood chips and corn, as well as rapeseed, barley, wheat, oats and straw. Even after adding large amounts of virus, after a short time the viruses in infectious form were usually not already detectable.
FLI reported that infectious viral material was only detected in some samples of fodder beet and potatoes stored in cold storage, even after longer storage periods. This is due to the fact that the ASF pathogen is particularly stable at low temperatures and humid environments.
According to the institute, during testing, various materials were contaminated with the ASF virus and stored at five different ambient temperatures for up to nine months. Samples were tested at different times for infectious viruses and viral genome remnants.
