REVIEW ARTICLE OORSIGARTIKEL

Review of African swine fever: Transmission, spread and control

M-L Penrith^{I, II,}; W Vosloo^{I, III}

^ITAD Scientific, 40 Thomson Street, Colbyn, 0083 South Africa
^IIDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
^IIITransboundary Animal Diseases Programme, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa

ABSTRACT

African swine fever is one of the most important and serious diseases of domestic pigs. Its highly contagious nature and ability to spread over long distances make it one of the most feared diseases, since its devastating effects on pig production have been experienced not only in most of sub-Saharan Africa but also in western Europe, the Caribbean, Brazil and, most recently, the Caucasus. Unlike most diseases of livestock, there is no vaccine, and therefore prevention relies entirely upon preventing contact between the virus and the susceptible host. In order to do so it is necessary to understand the way in which the virus is transmitted and spreads. By implementing strict biosecurity measures that place barriers between the source of virus and the pigs it is possible to prevent infection. However, this has implications for free-ranging pig husbandry systems that are widespread in developing countries. Attempts to produce a vaccine are ongoing and new technology offers some hope for the future, but this will not remove the necessity for implementing adequate biosecurity on pig farms.

Keywords: African swine fever, biosecurity, control, prevention, transmission

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Received: January 2009
Accepted: June 2009

* Author for correspondence. E-mail: marylouise@sentechsa.com