Assessing the Potential Role of Pigs in the Epidemiology of Ebola Virus in Uganda

Abstract

Summary Uganda has experienced 4 Ebola outbreaks since the discovery of the virus. Recent epidemiological work has shown pigs are hosts for Ebola viruses. Due to their high reproduction rates, rapid weight gain, potential to provide quick financial returns and rising demand for pork, pig production in Uganda has undergone massive expansion. The combination of pork sector growth supported by development programmes and Ebola virus risk prompted a foresight exercise using desk, interview and spatial methods. The study found that the lack of serological evidence for specific reservoir species, the number of human index cases unable to account for their source of infection, domestic pig habitat overlap with potential Ebola virus zoonotic host environments, reported interactions at the human–pig–wildlife interface that could support transmission, fever in pigs as a commonly reported problem by pig farmers and temporal correlation of outbreaks with peak pork consumption periods warrants further research into potential zoonotic transmission in Uganda from pigs.

Selected Endemic Zoonoses in Pigs Presenting for Slaughter in Kampala, Uganda

“…The four sampling periods coincided with times when the number of pigs being processed was known to increase to meet pork demand during holiday times. 35 Findings reported here were part of a larger study designed to demonstrate proof of freedom from filoviruses. Thus, samples from 649 pigs were available for detection of bacterial pathogens in the present study.…”

Serological evidence of exposure to ebolaviruses in domestic pigs from Guinea

“…Subsequent experimental infection of pigs with Ebola virus (EBOV) confirmed susceptibility of pigs to this highly pathogenic virus which resulted in clinical symptoms, oronasal shedding as well as transmission to co‐housed piglets and non‐human primates (Kobinger et al, ; Weingartl et al, ). In addition, a more recent study identified several factors such as domestic pig habitat overlap with assumed wildlife reservoir hosts as well as reported human–pig–wildlife interactions that might contribute to potential zoonotic transmission of ebolaviruses from pigs under field conditions (Atherstone, Smith, Ochungo, Roesel, & Grace, ). Overall, serological field studies investigating pigs for the presence of ebolavirus‐specific antibodies are sparse.…”

Analysis of pig trading networks and practices in Uganda

“…The Democratic Republic of Congo's total consumption of pork is expected to increase by 100%, Tanzania by 32%, and Kenya by 25% between 2000 and 2030 (Food and Agriculture Organization 2011). Introduction and expansion of pig production systems in these biodiverse landscapes may create new risks, including pathogen transfer from pigs to humans (Ocaido et al 2013;Wilson 2017;Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2012; Atherstone et al 2015;Hamill et al 2013; Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1668-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Agriculture Organization 2017).…”

“…Agriculture Organization 2017). Of particular public health interest is the role of pigs in the zoonotic transmission of emerging pathogens to people (Atherstone et al 2015;Vergara-Alert et al 2017;Middleton and Westbury 2002;Ma et al 2008;Kobinger et al 2011;Conlan et al 2012;McCormack and Allworth 2002;AbuBakar et al 2004;Marsh et al 2011). As pig traders form an important link between pig farms and pork customers, research informing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices is essential.…”