Research priorities to fill knowledge gaps in the control of African swine fever: possible transmission of African swine fever virus by vectors

Abstract

The European Commission requested that EFSA provide study designs for the investigation of four research domains according to major gaps in knowledge identified by EFSA in a report published in 2019: (i) the patterns of seasonality of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boar and domestic pigs in the EU; (ii) the epidemiology of ASF in wild boar; (iii) survival of ASF virus (ASFV) in the environment and (iv) transmission of ASFV by vectors. In this Scientific Opinion, the fourth research domain on ASFV transmission by vectors is addressed. Eleven research objectives were proposed by the EFSA working group and broader ASF expert networks, such as ASF stop, ENETWILD, VectorNet, AHAW network and the AHAW Panel Experts. Of the 11 research objectives, six were prioritised based on the following set of criteria: (1) the impact on ASF management; (2) the feasibility or practicality to carry out the study;(3) the potential implementation of study results in practice; (4) a possible short time-frame study (< 1 year); (5) the novelty of the study and (6) if it was a priority for risk managers. The prioritised research objectives were: (I) Studies on the potential vector fauna at the pig-wild boar interface and the feeding preference of blood-feeding potential vectors in ASF-affected areas; (II) Assessment of the efficacy of insect screens on indoor/outdoor pig holdings to prevent the entry of blood-sucking vectors (i.e. Stomoxys) in ASF endemic areas; (III) Assess the role of mechanical vectors in the virus transmission in ASF-affected areas; (IV) Distribution of the potential mechanical transmission vectors in ASF-affected areas of the EU; (V) ASFV transmission by synanthropic birds; and (VI) Assessment on the presence/absence of the soft tick Ornithodoros erraticus in ASF-affected areas in Europe. For each of the selected research objectives, a research protocol has been proposed considering the potential impact on ASF management and the period of 1 year for the research activities.

Spatial proliferation of African swine fever virus in South Korea

“…To control the spread of ASFV, eradication programs, based on the rapid diagnosis, disposal, and slaughter of all animals in an infection zone, thorough cleaning and disinfection, surveillance, desensitization, and movement control measures, should be applied [ 9 , 10 ]. Ecologists have suggested that wild boar [ 11 ], wolves [ 12 ], ticks [ 13 ], synanthropic birds [ 14 ], feed houses [ 14 ], slaughterhouses [ 15 ], and wildlife in general [ 16 ] play a prominent role in the spread, infection, and maintenance of ASF [ 17 , 18 ]. The direction of epidemic waves can be observed and predicted based on disease vector habitats, movement range, and movement patterns [ 17 , 19 ].…”

African swine fever virus: A re-emerging threat to the swine industry and food security in the Americas

“…It is imperative to establish and follow national and international guidelines on preventive surveillance and diagnosis including enhancing communication among countries, strengthen vector surveillance, and increase public awareness of ASFV. Finally, we encourage to establish regional networks of cooperation, as has been implanted in the European Union (EFSA et al, 2021 ), that help to research/understand major gaps in knowledge in the Americas as much as to harmonize diagnostic techniques, share real-time surveillance data and help to avoid the possible dissemination of ASFV in the Region.…”

The effect of military activities on the epizootic situation of ASF in the Sumy region

“…Додаткові ризики полягають у можливості рознесення продуктів дикими тваринами, що спричиняє контамінацію прилеглих територій. Транспортні засоби також можуть бути джерелом транскордонного поширення інфекції та контамінації вірусом навколишнього середовища, а отже постійне пересування цивільної та військової техніки несе додаткову загрозу епізоотичному стану країни (Mur et al, 2012;Voroniak & Cherevko, 2015;EFSA et al, 2021).…”