African swine fever (ASF) remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world, with a mortality rate of nearly 100% among infected pigs and no effective vaccine or treatment currently available. Therefore, rapid diagnosis is critical for epidemic control and containment.
The new test, named sCRAM (suboptimal PAM-mediated CRISPR-Cas12a Rapid ASFV Method), combines several technologies in a single-tube reaction, including multienzyme isothermal amplification (MIRA) and a CRISPR-Cas12a system optimized to operate at 37°C for 15 minutes. This is preceded by a rapid nucleic acid release step at 40°C for 5 minutes.
Thanks to this approach, the process does not require complex sample preparation or DNA extraction — only a minimal sample amount is needed, significantly simplifying diagnostics for veterinarians in the field.
Test results can be read visually under UV light or via lateral flow strips (LFS). In evaluations using 111 laboratory and clinical samples of blood, plasma, and swabs, the new system demonstrated:
- 100% concordance with qPCR results under UV detection;
- 98.2% concordance using LFS;
- 100% specificity and no cross-reactivity with other common swine pathogens.
According to the study’s authors, sCRAM has strong potential for on-farm use and in regions with limited laboratory resources. The system could represent a major breakthrough in ASF surveillance, enabling rapid detection, targeted isolation, and the prevention of large-scale pig losses.
PigUA.info based on materials from isaaa.org