African Swine Fever: an Overview

Abstract

The African swine fever (ASF) is an expanding devastating viral disease currently threatening the pig industry worldwide. The virus is an icosahedral cytoplasmic deoxyribovirus (ICDV) of the Asfarviridae family. It is an arbovirus (transmitted by ticks) and it is the only arbovirus that contains DNA. Wild suids of Africa, mainly the warthog and bushpig, are the original vertebrate hosts of ASF. Domestic pigs are infected by ticks (Ornithodoros moubata) or by direct contact with wild suids. Transstadial and transovarian infections occur in ticks. Recently, ASF caused high morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs in Nigeria and other West African countries previously known to be free of the disease. No protective vaccination has been discovered; hence, a slaughter policy with adequate compensation, strict quarantine of pigs and their products at borders are necessary to stop the current outbreaks of ASF in Africa, particularly in West Africa. To eradicate ASF it has become very urgent to further promote awareness of ASF, to cook swill before serving to pigs, and to enforce regulations against free-ranging pigs. Research in vaccine production against ASF should be intensified. Governments must improve veterinary ambulatory and diagnostic services as well as the information network since ASF is a notifiable disease.