A method for generating progeny of an African swine fever (ASF) virus includes providing an isolated or purified fetal porcine lung alveolar macrophage cell capable of replicating the ASF virus, wherein the cell is cultured for at least 5 passages; exposing the cell to the ASF virus; and allowing the ASF virus to replicate in the cell; thereby generating progeny of the ASF virus.

Methods are provided herein utilizing a stable cell line capable of efficient infection by African swine fever virus (ASFV) and also provides for the detection of the presence of virus in samples applied to the cells. Detection of the virus by means such as red blood cell rosetting is a surprising result given that the cell line is derived from African green monkeys. This cell line provides a marked improvement over the currently available testing strategies.

The present disclosure provides a method of isolating and preparing live African Swine Fever (ASF) viruses (ASFV) and an ASFV vaccine composed of ASF virus particles. ASF viral components, and/or immunosuppressive protein factors. The ASFV vaccine can be used to immunize pigs and wild boars, or can be used to immunize species other than pig or wild boar, such as fowl, bovine, goat, rabbit, donkey or horse, to generate polyclonal immunoglobulins with broad-spectrum specificity to the ASFV. The ASFV-specific immunoglobulins then can be extracted and purified. The ASFV-specific immunoglobulins can provide acute treatment of ASF-infected pigs or wild boars or preventative treatment for pigs or wild boars at risk of ASF, for example that may have been exposed to ASFV or ASFV-infected subjects.