Tag: African swine fever

Intestinal microbiota influences susceptibility to African swine fever

Faecal microbiota transplantation from African warthog to pig improved protection against an attenuated strain of African swine fever virus (ASFV), coinciding with a potent stimulation of mucosal immunity in transplanted animals. This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers from the Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) from the Institut de Recerca […]

Global action needed to stop the spread of African swine fever

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a joint initiative for the Global Control of African swine fever. African swine Fever (ASF) has become a major crisis for the pork industry, causing massive losses in pig populations and generating drastic economic consequences. Currently […]

Additives may help mitigate the risk of ASFV transmission through feed

Researchers at Kansas State University have found that chemical feed additives may potentially serve as mitigants for reducing the risk of introduction and transmission of African swine fever virus (ASFV) through feed. Their findings are published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. The research team, headed by Megan Niederwerder, assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology […]

Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the European Union

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its latest annual update on the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in the European Union. During the period covered by the report – November 2018 to October 2019 – Czechia became officially ASF-free. The disease was, however, confirmed as present in Slovakia, meaning there continue to […]

Experimental vaccine for African swine fever virus shows promise

Researchers have discovered a previously uncharacterized virus gene, which when deleted completely attenuates the Georgia isolate (ASFV-G) of African swine fever virus. Animals infected with this genetically modified virus were protected from developing ASF after challenge with the virulent parental virus. The findings are reported in the Journal of Virology. In the study, both low […]

Early detection is key to controlling spread of African swine fever in Europe

Improved surveillance, communication and collaboration are key to controlling the spread of African swine fever in Europe, according to a risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The assessment estimates the potential for the disease to spread across south-eastern Europe. It was requested by the European Commission to support efforts to […]

Almost 5 million pigs lost to Asia’s ASF outbreak

Close to 5 million pigs in Asia have now died or been culled because of the spread of African swine fever (ASF), first detected in China in August 2018. As of August 2019, ASF is present in six Asian countries: Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Vietnam. The latest data provided by FAO […]

Global initiative to control African swine fever

During the 87th General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), held 26-31 May 2019, a report on the global African swine fever (ASF) situation was presented to the Assembly. Throughout the second semester of 2018, 25 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia informed the OIE of outbreaks of African swine fever on […]

Pig disease workshop to focus on African swine fever

A workshop to improve coordination of research on pig diseases, in particular African swine fever (ASF), will be held in Beijing on 12 March 2019. Organized by the European Union, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and the STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health (IRC), the workshop will bring together experts in animal […]