Scientific review on African Swine Fever

Abstract

The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as authors. In accordance with Article 36 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, this task has been carried out exclusively by the authors in the context of a grant agreement between the European Food Safety Authority and the authors. The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the European Food Safety Authority is subject. It may not be considered as an output adopted by EFSA. EFSA reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors. The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as authors. In accordance with Article 36 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, this task has been carried out exclusively by the authors in the context of a grant agreement between the European Food Safety Authority and the authors. The present document is published complying with the transparency principle to which the European Food Safety Authority is subject. It may not be considered as an output adopted by EFSA. EFSA reserves its rights, view and position as regards the issues addressed and the conclusions reached in the present document, without prejudice to the rights of the authors.Page 3 DEFINITION and DISTRIBUTIONAfrican Swine Fever (ASF) is caused by a complex DNA virus classified in the Asfarviridae family, genus Asfivirus, which infects different species of soft ticks and wild and domestic pigs. In the vertebrate hosts, the aetiological agent replicates preferentially in monocyte and macrophage cells and causes a range of symdromes and lesions from peracute to chronic and unapparent forms of disease.Actually, it is one of the most important diseases of domestic pigs, being of an exceptional seriousness, which can easily spread abroad and for which sanitary and socio-economical consequences have a significant impact on the national and international trade of animals and animal products. For this reason, it is listed as a Notifiable disease to the World Animal HealthOrganisation (OIE). At present there is no treatment or vaccine available, and control is based on rapid laboratory diagnosis and the enforcement of strict sanitary measures (Sanchez-Vizcaino, 2006). The virus has been maintained in African wild swine for a very long time: in eastern and southern Africa it is found in warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) and bushpigs (Potamochoerus porcus) also it is found in soft ticks of Ornithodoros genus. The wild swine in Africa can stay infected over a long period without showing any symptom of the disease -and thus can be considered as natural reservoirs of the disease, in contrast to the European wild boar (Sus scrofa) which appear to be highly susceptible (McVicar et al., 1988). The virus can be transmitted between O. moubata ticks by trans-stadial transmission as well as by sexual and trans-ovarian pathway, in contrast to O. erraticus in Europe where only trans...

Seroprevalence of African Swine Fever in Senegal, 2006

“…However, the absence of a statistical association between the presence of ticks on pig farms and reported cases (or farmers’ suspicions of cases) of ASF, 3 years before the current survey, suggests that even if ticks were responsible for resurgence ( 20 ), they may not play a major role in the spread or emergence of ASF in this region, in contrast to the situation in Malawi ( 16 ). The Ziguinchor and Kolda regions are located below the 750 mm isohyet (≈13°30′N in Senegal; Figure), the southern limit of the reported geographic distribution of O. sonrai ticks ( 21 , 22 ).…”

Molecular characterization of African swine fever virus in apparently healthy domestic pigs in Uganda

“…The inability of ASFV to induce neutralizing antibodies has hampered the prevention and control of the disease by vaccination and to date there is no vaccine for ASF. In the absence of effective vaccines, control is based on rapid laboratory diagnosis and the enforcement of strict sanitary measures (Sánchez-Vizcaíno et al, 2009). The formulation of appropriate disease control strategies requires intensive molecular epidemiological investtigations not only during disease outbreaks but also field and abattoir surveillance.…”

Biological characterization of African swine fever virus genotype II strains from north-eastern Estonia in European wild boar

“…Depending on host and virus factors, the disease can run acute, subacute and chronic courses. The former is especially linked to highly virulent virus strains and is characterized by severe clinical signs including high fever, general depression, anorexia, gastrointestinal signs, neurological disorders and haemorrhagic lesions in the final stage of the disease (Sánchez‐Vizcaíno et al., ). In general, the disease course does not differ when comparing European wild boar and domestic pigs (Blome, Gabriel, & Beer, ; Gabriel et al., ).…”