9. African swine fever epidemiology, surveillance and control
Arvo Viltrop, Fernando Boinas, Klaus Depner, Ferrán Jori, Denis Kolbasov, Alberto Laddomada, Karl Ståhl, Erika Chenais
Abstract
Abstract - \nThe introduction of genotype II African swine fever (ASF) virus (ASFV) into the Caucasus in \n2007 resulted in unprecedented disease propagation via slow geographical expansion through \nwild boar populations, short- and long-distance human-mediated translocations, and incursions \ninto naïve wild boar and domestic pig populations. The disease is now widespread in eastern and \ncentral Europe as well as in Asia, including China. The global dimension of the current epidemic \nshows that all countries need to be prepared for an introduction. In its natural habitat in Africa, \nASFV is maintained within an ancient cycle between soft argasid ticks and the common warthog. \nOnce introduced to the domestic pig population, direct and indirect virus transmission occurs \nwith or without involvement of the tick vector in the pig-tick and domestic pig epidemiological \ncycles respectively. In the domestic pig cycle, human activities involving pigs or pig derived \nproducts are the dominating driver of virus transmission. ASF epidemiology in the presence of \nwild boar and northern European climates has proved to have specific characteristics, described \nin the wild boar-habitat epidemiological cycle. In this cycle wild boar carcasses and the resulting \ncontamination of the environment play key roles in virus persistence. In both the wild boarhabitat \nand the domestic pig epidemiological cycle, fully implemented biosecurity is the key \nfor stopping virus transmission and controlling the disease. Positive examples from the Czech Republic and Belgium show that control and eradication of ASF from the wild boar-habitat cycle \ncan be achieved. Both these cases, as well as the example of Sardinia, where ASFV genotype I \nnow seem very close to eradication after more than 40 years presence, further underline the \nimportance of involving, engaging and understanding all stakeholders in the value chains from \nfarm and forest to fork in order to accomplish ASF control and eradication.