African Swine Fever: A Biosecurity Challenge for Domestic Pig Production in Serbia

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is currently the most important challenge for domestic pig production worldwide. The virus reached Eurasia in 2007, and is today affecting more than half of European Union member countries. Among Western Balkan countries, Serbia suffered the first case of ASF in a backyard holding in 2019. Since then, numerous outbreaks in domestic pigs and wild boar have been reported throughout the country despite the efforts of the veterinary authorities to control the disease. The lack of an effective vaccine is one of the main constraints, and the only currently available option to prevent further ASF infections is the application of strict biosecurity measures. Regarding biosecurity, backyard pig producers and smallholding farmers in Serbia have substantial gaps in the knowledge and fail to comply with safe production behaviour that favours the spread of ASF virus. In the currently prevailing smallholder and backyards farming systems, farm biosecurity is largely non-existent. The aim of this review was to identify specific ASF-risks factors in the current pig production system and gaps in biosecurity measures related to the human activities recognised as social and cultural identity in Serbia. Moreover, the main risk factors for ASF spreading and transmission at the domestic/wild boar interface, biosecurity practices in different production systems, and possible future control measures and awareness campaigns are discussed.

African Swine Fever Outbreak in an Enclosed Wild Boar Hunting Ground in Serbia

“…Since no vaccine against ASF is available [ 3 , 4 ] in the European continent recommended control strategy in the wild boar population nowadays includes fencing the affected area, removal of carcasses, and targeted hunting [ 4 , 5 , 21 ]. Certainly, all of the above measures need to be supported and strengthened by the implementation of biosecurity measures during hunting to minimize the likelihood of human-mediated ASF spread and prevent its entry into the pork production system [ 7 , 8 , 18 ].…”

“…The first case of ASF in Serbia was confirmed in 2019 in the domestic pigs in a village located in the central region of the country [ 17 ], several hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest reported ASF outbreak, suggesting a human-mediated disease introduction over long distances [ 4 , 12 ]. In early 2020, ASF was detected for the first time in wild boars in the southeastern region of the country, in districts close to the border with Romania and Bulgaria [ 18 , 19 ]. Since then, numerous outbreaks have been reported in wild boar in open hunting grounds close to the border area in southeastern Serbia [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…In early 2020, ASF was detected for the first time in wild boars in the southeastern region of the country, in districts close to the border with Romania and Bulgaria [ 18 , 19 ]. Since then, numerous outbreaks have been reported in wild boar in open hunting grounds close to the border area in southeastern Serbia [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. However, in June 2021, ASF was detected for the first time in the wild boar population located in the northeastern region of the country (Vojvodina Province), in the border area with Romania.…”

Innovative Research Offers New Hope for Managing African Swine Fever Better in Resource-Limited Smallholder Farming Settings: A Timely Update

“…Sharing of boars is a common practice among smallholder farmers [ 3 , 4 , 10 , 76 , 88 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 ]. It is considered to be an unsafe practice because the status of the boars is not known, although it is unlikely that a clinically sick boar would mate.…”

“…Apart from income generation, the reasons why smallholders keep pigs vary in different regions. In Eastern Europe, they are kept mostly for home slaughter [ 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and manufacture of traditional products that are consumed during the winter months and may sometimes be sold locally [ 6 , 11 ]. In some parts of the Pacific region, they are kept mainly for ceremonial or social purposes as well as an important source of income [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], and in many parts of Africa, as well as in Haiti, mainly as a passive asset, insurance policy, or “walking bank” to be sold when a need arises [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”