Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2022

Ståhl, Karl; Boklund, Anette; Podgórski, Tomasz; Vergne, Timothée; Abrahantes, José Cortiñas; Papanikolaou, Alexandra; Zancanaro, Gabriele; Mur, Lina

doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8016

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The positivity rates of wild boar samples differed between the tests used, and, importantly, between the types of wild boar samples. As shown in Table 3 , the overall positivity rate was the highest for found‐dead animals tested by PCR with 31% positivity (between 4% and 67%, depending on the country), consistent with previous reports (EFSA, 2022a , 2022b , 2023b ). The overall positivity rates among hunted animals and road‐killed wild boar tested by PCR were 0.4% (between 0% and 2%) and 0.5% (between 0% and 6%), respectively.…”

Section: Assessmentsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The NUTS 3 regions where at least one sample of wild boar tested positive in 2023 are highlighted with red borders. As observed in a previous report (EFSA, 2023b ), the most intense surveillance activities were noted for hunted wild boar (represented in dark blue in Figure 13A ) in affected regions and their bordering areas (e.g. Baltic States, Poland), and in areas previously affected areas that had managed to eliminate the disease (e.g.…”

Section: Assessmentsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…In Estonia, the low number of dead wild boar tested in 2023 hampers the interpretation of results, while no clear trends are observed in the other Member States. The reasons behind this winter seasonality have been observed and discussed in previous EFSA reports (EFSA, 2020 , 2021 , 2022c , 2023b ). Some of the previously mentioned factors are related to the wild boar ecology and management strategies (e.g.…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 63%

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Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2023

Ståhl,

Boklund,

Podgórski

et al. 2024

EFS2

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In 2023, 14 Member States were affected by African swine fever (ASF), including Croatia and Sweden where ASF emerged (wild boar outbreaks only) and Greece where ASF re‐emerged after being free since 2021. The number of ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs in the EU was five times higher than in 2022, reaching a similar magnitude to that in 2019. This was predominantly driven by the introduction and subsequent spread of ASF in Croatia and its resurgence in Romania, representing 96% of the EU outbreaks. ASF outbreaks in domestic pigs were clearly seasonal in all countries, with 88% of outbreaks reported between July and October. Most of the ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs were detected through clinical suspicion (94%), followed by tracing from affected establishments (3%), and the weekly testing of at least two dead pigs in establishments (3%). In wild boar, a 10% increase in the number of notified outbreaks was observed in the EU in comparison with 2022, with considerable variations between countries. A winter peak was observed only in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The epidemiological situation in wild boar improved in Germany and Hungary, as suggested by the decrease in the number of outbreaks and in the proportions of PCR‐positive samples from dead wild boar. Overall, 31% of wild boar carcasses found during passive surveillance tested positive by PCR, representing 69% of the ASF outbreaks in wild boar in the EU. In contrast, 0.4% of hunted wild boar tested positive, representing 31% of the outbreaks. Despite the introduction of ASF into new countries and the increase in the number of outbreaks, the size of restricted zones in the EU remained stable, due to the highly clustered outbreaks in Croatia, and the reduction of restricted zones in Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria (in domestic pigs), and Hungary (in wild boar).

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Section: Assessmentsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Assessmentsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 63%

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Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2023

Ståhl,

Boklund,

Podgórski

et al. 2024

EFS2

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…Gale (2002) and Kohler (2017) did not consider the risk of the ASFV within the EU. However, the situation has worsened in the last few years, and ASFV is an emerging risk in European countries (EFSA, 2022, 2023). Since 2014, the virus has been reported in different European countries, mostly linked to wild boars, but also to pigs, both in commercial farms and backyard pigs.…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of alternative methods of tunnel composting (submitted by the European Composting Network) II

Koutsoumanis,

Allende,

Bolton

et al. 2024

EFS2

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Two alternative methods for producing compost in a tunnel, from certain category (Cat.) 3 animal by-products (ABP) and other non-ABP material, were assessed. The first method proposed a minimum temperature of 55°C for 72 h and the second 60°C for 48 h, both with a maximum particle size of 200 mm. The assessment of the Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) exclusively focused on Cat. 3 ABP materials (catering waste and processed foodstuffs of animal origin no longer intended for human consumption). The proposed composting processes were evaluated for their efficacy to achieve a reduction of at least 5 log 10 of Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella Senftenberg (775W, H 2 S negative) and at least 3 log 10 of relevant thermoresistant viruses. The applicant provided a list of biological hazards that may enter the composting process and selected parvoviruses as the indicator of the thermoresistant viruses. The evidence provided by the applicant included: (a) literature data on thermal inactivation of biological hazards; (b) results from validation studies on the reduction of E. faecalis, Salmonella Senftenberg 775W H 2 S negative and canine parvovirus carried out in composting plants across Europe; (c) and experimental data from direct measurements of reduction of infectivity of murine parvovirus in compost material applying the time/temperature conditions of the two alternative methods. The evidence provided showed the capacity of the proposed alternative methods to reduce E. faecalis and Salmonella Senftenberg 775W H 2 S negative by at least 5 log 10 , and parvoviruses by at least 3 log 10 . The BIOHAZ Panel concluded that the two alternative methods under assessment can be considered to be equivalent to the processing method currently approved in the Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

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“…Recently, the disease has also occurred in Haiti and The Dominican Republic [7]. It has been introduced into multiple EU countries and in 2022 new outbreaks occurred in eight of them including Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Poland [8]. In 2018, the virus spread further into Asia and has caused massive losses within the pig production industry in China and nearby countries, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Release of fragmented host, cell-free, genomic DNA into the circulation of pigs during infection by virulent African swine fever virus

Olesen,

Lohse,

Johnston

et al. 2023

Preprint

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African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a severe hemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs resulting in high case fatality rates. The virus replicates in circulating cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and within lymphoid tissues, e.g. tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes. The infection results in high fever and a variety of clinical signs from about 3 days post infection. In this study, it was observed that one of many changes resulting from ASFV-infection within pigs was a large (>1000-fold) increase in the level of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), including the beta-actin gene, derived from the nuclei of host cells, in the serum. This change occurred in parallel with the increase in circulating ASFV DNA. In addition, elevated levels (about 30-fold higher) of host mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were detected in serum from ASFV-infected pigs, but with a much higher baseline level of mtDNA in sera from uninfected pigs. The host derived cfDNA is derived from dead cells which may, or may not, have been infected. For comparison, the release of the cellular enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a commonly used marker of cellular damage, was also found to be elevated during the infection. The cfDNA is readily detected in serum and is a more sensitive host marker of ASFV infection than the release of mtDNA or LDH. In addition, sera from pigs infected by classical swine fever virus (CSFV), which causes a clinically similar disease as ASFV, were also tested but this infection did not result in the release of cfDNA, mtDNA or LDH.

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Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2022

Cited by 24 publications

References 15 publications

Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2023

Epidemiological analysis of African swine fever in the European Union during 2023

Evaluation of alternative methods of tunnel composting (submitted by the European Composting Network) II

Release of fragmented host, cell-free, genomic DNA into the circulation of pigs during infection by virulent African swine fever virus

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