African Swine Fever Virus – Survival and Transmission

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 16275

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: ASFV epidemiology and control; in particular risk factors for virus transmission into domestic pig herds; whole-genome sequencing of ASFV as a tool for molecular tracing

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: Virus infections in production animals; transmission and control; pathogenesis, e.g. ASFV, SARS-CoV-2 in mink, PEDV

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

African swine fever (ASF) is an important notifiable disease of domestic pigs and wild boar. ASF has huge socioeconomic consequences, and the most recent introduction of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) from Africa into Transcaucasia and further spread into Europe, China, and Southeastern Asia has demonstrated its threat to the worldwide trade of pig products and global food security.

In Europe, the introduction of ASFV into both backyard and commercial pig farms is often attributed to indirect virus transmission mediated via humans. However, in the majority of cases, the exact route of introduction cannot be established. In order to identify risk factors for entry into pig holdings, various mechanisms for indirect ASFV transmission should be explored further. These include the persistence of ASFV in dead wild boar and their habitat. In addition, virus survival in different matrices, including feed, bedding, fomites, and pork products, needs to be assessed together with the risk of transmission via such materials to pigs. Furthermore, the roles of invertebrate vectors at the domestic pig–wild boar interface and of human behavior in spreading the disease need to be considered.

In this Special Issue, we intend to focus on ASFV stability and survival in different materials and the indirect routes of virus transmission in order to increase the understanding of ASFV transmission, including at the wild boar–domestic pig interface. We ask researchers to contribute their recent findings, focusing on (but not limited to):

  • Laboratory and field investigations of ASFV survival and stability
  • Transmission studies and field case reports
  • Modeling of ASF spread
  • Biosecurity
  • Social science studies related to possible transmission routes

Dr. Ann Sofie Olesen
Prof. Dr. Anette Bøtner
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ASFV survival
  • domestic pig–wild boar interface
  • feed
  • fomites
  • indirect transmission
  • vectors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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7 pages, 4444 KiB  
Communication
Genotyping of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Isolates in Romania with the First Report of Genotype II in Symptomatic Pigs
by Andrei Ungur, Cristina Daniela Cazan, Luciana Cătălina Panait, Marian Taulescu, Oana Maria Balmoș, Marian Mihaiu, Florica Bărbuceanu, Andrei Daniel Mihalca and Cornel Cătoi
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(12), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8120290 - 26 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3310
Abstract
The World Organisation for Animal Health has listed African swine fever as the most important deadly disease in domestic swine around the world. The virus was recently brought from South-East Africa to Georgia in 2007, and it has since expanded to Russia, Eastern [...] Read more.
The World Organisation for Animal Health has listed African swine fever as the most important deadly disease in domestic swine around the world. The virus was recently brought from South-East Africa to Georgia in 2007, and it has since expanded to Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, having a devastating impact on the global swine industry and economy. In this study, we report for the first time the molecular characterization of nine African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates obtained from domestic pigs in Mureş County, Romania. All nine Romanian samples clustered within p72 genotype II and showed 100% identity with all compared isolates from Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Poland. This is the first report of ASFV genotype II in the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue African Swine Fever Virus – Survival and Transmission)
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9 pages, 1861 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Variations in Infrared Skin Temperature of Weaned Pigs Experimentally Inoculated with the African Swine Fever Virus: A Pilot Study
by Sang-Ik Oh, Hu Suk Lee, Vuong Nghia Bui, Duy Tung Dao, Ngoc Anh Bui, Thanh Duy Le, Minh Anh Kieu, Quang Huy Nguyen, Long Hoang Tran, Kyoung-Min So, Seung-Won Yi, Eunju Kim and Tai-Young Hur
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(10), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8100223 - 9 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3338
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating viral disease in pigs and is therefore economically important for the swine industry. ASF is characterized by a short incubation period and immediate death, making the early identification of ASF-infected pigs essential. This pilot-scale study evaluates [...] Read more.
African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating viral disease in pigs and is therefore economically important for the swine industry. ASF is characterized by a short incubation period and immediate death, making the early identification of ASF-infected pigs essential. This pilot-scale study evaluates whether the infrared thermography (IRT) technique can be used as a diagnostic tool to detect changes in skin temperature (Tsk) during the early stages of disease development in experimentally ASF-infected pigs. Clinical symptoms and rectal temperatures (Tcore) were recorded daily, and IRT readings during the experimental ASF infection were analyzed. All infected pigs died at 5–8 days post inoculation (dpi), and the incubation period was approximately 4 dpi. The average Tcore increased from 0 dpi (38.9 ± 0.3 °C) to 7 dpi (41.0 ± 0.5 °C) and decreased by 8 dpi (39.8 ± 0 °C). The maximum Tsk of ASF-infected pigs increased from 2 (35.0 °C) to 3 dpi (38.5 °C). The mean maximum Tsk observed from three regions on the skin (ear, inguinal, and neck) significantly increased from 2 to 3 dpi. This study presents a non-contact method for the early detection of ASF in infected pigs using thermal imaging at 3 days after ASF infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue African Swine Fever Virus – Survival and Transmission)
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7 pages, 950 KiB  
Case Report
Detection of African Swine Fever at an Abattoir in South Korea, 2020
by Ki-Hyun Cho, Hyun-Joo Kim, Min-Kyung Jang, Ji-Hyoung Ryu, Daesung Yoo, Hae-Eun Kang and Jee-Yong Park
Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(4), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9040150 - 22 Mar 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2918
Abstract
In October 2020, a suspect case of African swine fever (ASF) was detected at an abattoir located in the north-central border region of South Korea. The farm of origin was traced and confirmed positive for ASF. This recurrence was following a period of [...] Read more.
In October 2020, a suspect case of African swine fever (ASF) was detected at an abattoir located in the north-central border region of South Korea. The farm of origin was traced and confirmed positive for ASF. This recurrence was following a period of absence of outbreaks in domestic pigs after the first incursion in 2019, during which a total of 14 domestic pig farms were confirmed between September and October 2019. In 2020, a total of two farms were confirmed, and the molecular characterization of key regions of the genome showed that the two isolates from 2020 were identical with the previous isolates from South Korea in 2019. The continued spread and circulation of ASF in the wild boar population represents an increased risk of spill-over outbreaks in domestic pigs, and, therefore, additional control measures should be implemented for farms in these regions, including a heightened level of surveillance. This was the case for the index farm, which was required to send pigs only to the designated abattoir at which the suspect case was quickly detected. The improvement of biosecurity in pig farms, particularly at the wild boar–domestic pig interface, will be key to the successful control of ASF in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue African Swine Fever Virus – Survival and Transmission)
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8 pages, 1416 KiB  
Case Report
Report on the First African Swine Fever Case in Greece
by Georgia D. Brellou, Panagiotis D. Tassis, Emmanouela P. Apostolopoulou, Paschalis D. Fortomaris, Leonidas S. Leontides, Georgios A. Papadopoulos and Eleni D. Tzika
Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(8), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8080163 - 11 Aug 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5518
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) poses a major threat to swine health and welfare worldwide. After several European countries have reported cases of ASF, Greece confirmed officially the first positive case on 5 February 2020. The owner of a backyard farm in Nikoklia, a [...] Read more.
African swine fever (ASF) poses a major threat to swine health and welfare worldwide. After several European countries have reported cases of ASF, Greece confirmed officially the first positive case on 5 February 2020. The owner of a backyard farm in Nikoklia, a village in Serres regional unit, Central Macedonia, reported a loss of appetite, weakness, dyspnea, and the sudden death of 6 domestic pigs. Necropsy was performed in one gilt and findings were compatible with acute to subacute septicemic disease. Predominantly, hyperemic enlargement of spleen and lymph node enlargement and/or hemorrhage were observed. Description of vague clinical signs by the farmer suggested a limited resemblance to ASF-acute infection. However, the disease could not be ruled out once septicemic condition including splenomegaly, was diagnosed macroscopically at necropsy. In addition, considering the farm’s location near to ASF protection zones, a further diagnostic investigation followed. Confirmation of the disease was obtained using a series of diagnostic tests on several tissue samples. Further clinical, molecular, and epidemiologic evaluation of the farm was performed. According to the contingency plan, authorities euthanized all 31 pigs on the farm, whilst blood testing revealed ASF virus infection. Further emergency measures were implemented to contain the spread of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue African Swine Fever Virus – Survival and Transmission)
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