African Swine Fever

Pesti Porcine Africaine,

Peste Porcina Africana,
Maladie de Montgomery
 Species Affected
• Domestic pigs
• Feral swine
European boar

• Wild pigs
– Eurasian wild boars
– Warthogs (reservoir)
– Bush pigs (reservoir) warthog

– Giant forest hogs

bush pig

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 African Swine Fever Virus
• Asfarviridae: Asfivirus
– Large, enveloped
DNA virus
– Only arbo-DNA virus
• More than 20 genotypes
– Vary in virulence
– High virulence: up to 100% mortality
– Low virulence: seroconversion
• Infects monocytes and macrophages
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 African Swine Fever Virus
• Highly resistant in environment,
especially at lower temperatures
• Survival
– Several days in feces
– Month(s) in contaminated pens
– Up to 18 months in blood
– Over 140 days in some pork products
• Salted dried hams
– Years in frozen carcasses
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 History
• 1921: Discovered in Kenya
– Today: endemic
in most of
sub-Saharan
Africa including
the island
of Madagascar

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Transmission
• Direct contact with infected pig
– Usually oronasal
– All secretions/excretions, blood, tissues
• Environmental contamination with products
• Ingestion of contaminated
pork products
– Fed to pigs – swill, waste, garbage
– Carcasses

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Transmission
• Fomites
– Clothing, vehicles, equipment
– Environmental contamination
• Blood, diarrhea, feces
• Vectors
– Biological: Bite from soft ticks
Ornithodoros
– Mechanical: Other insects
• Mosquitoes, biting flies (Stomoxys)

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Transmission
• Ornithodoros soft ticks
– Sexual transmission
– Infected for life
• Tick-to-pig transmission
– Important in Africa
– Maintained between warthogs and tick

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 HUMANS ARE NOT
SUSCEPTIBLE TO
AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

There is no public health or

food safety concern.
 Clinical Signs:
Acute Disease
• High fever • Erythema, cyanosis
• Anorexia • Hemorrhages
• Lethargy – Skin, snout
• Weakness, recumbency

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Clinical Signs:
Acute Disease
• Diarrhea
• Abortion
• Respiratory
– Dyspnea
– Nasal discharge
• Death
– 7-10 days

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Clinical Signs:
Chronic Disease
• Intermittent, low fever
• Anorexia, depression
• Emaciation, stunting
• Respiratory: coughing
• Joint swelling
• Diarrhea
• Occasional vomiting
• Skin lesions
• May be fatal
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Post-Mortem Lesions
• Numerous
hemorrhagic
internal organs
• Skin
– Discoloration
– Hemorrhages
• Signs of bloody
diarrhea or internal
hemorrhages
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Post-Mortem Lesions

• Spleen
– Enlarged
– Friable
– Dark red/
black

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Post-Mortem Lesions:
Most Common
• Lymph nodes
– Gastrohepatic and renal
– Swollen
LN common
– Hemorrhagic
– Tonsils:
swollen, reddened

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Actions To Take
• Reportable disease
• If ASF suspected, IMMEDIATELY
notify animal health authorities
• Isolate/quarantine animals until
definitive diagnosis received

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Treatment
• No treatment available
– No treatment should be attempted
• No vaccine available

• Response should be directed by

animal health authorities
• Depopulation
• Restrictions on pig movements
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Prevention
Prevent direct transmission between
infected and susceptible swine
– Isolate ill pigs
– Prevent contact with feral or wild hogs;
when possible house pigs indoors
– Keep newly acquired pigs separate from
the herd for at least 30 days to assure
health

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Prevention
Prevent indirect Prevent vector
transmission transmission
• Do not feed uncooked • Control tick and
pork products to pigs other insect vectors
– Swill, garbage, waste
• May be difficult in
• Disinfection
– Vehicles, equipment,
endemic areas
footwear, clothing
• Appropriate disposal of
manure and carcasses
• Avoid hunting wild hogs
prior to contact with
domestic pigs
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018
 Control Measures
• Quarantine of farm • Investigation
• Authorities notified • Rapid diagnosis
• Movement • Determine source
restrictions of virus

Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2018