Thrombocytopenia associated with apoptotic megakaryocytes in a viral haemorrhagic syndrome induced by a moderately virulent strain of African swine fever virus

A viral haemorrhagic syndrome was induced in 14 pigs by inoculation with an African swine fever (ASF) virus strain of moderate virulence, to determine changes in megakaryocyte (MK) numbers and morphology and thus to assess the role of these cells in the thrombocytopenia characteristic of subacute ASF. The strain tested induced changes in the proportion of different types of MK (typical nucleated MKs, apoptotic MKs and immature MKs); it also caused subcellular lesions over the first 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). At 7 dpi, severe thrombocytopenia was observed. There was a statistically significant increase in apoptotic MK numbers. The MKs showed three stages in the course of the disease: a compensatory stage, represented by cytoplasmic projections, a hypermaturity stage, represented by apoptotic MKs, and a regenerative stage, represented by clusters of immature MKs. These changes, especially the presence of numerous apoptotic MKs, may explain the early and transitory thrombocytopenia detected in subacute ASF. The large number of apoptotic MKs observed may be associated with the accelerated maturation of these cells, resulting from the action of cytokines, or peripheral platelet consumption, or both. (C) 1998 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.