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Chenais E, Ernholm L, Brunzell AF, Mård K, Svensson L, Lindahl JF, Lewerin SS. Perceptions and practices of Swedish wild boar hunters in relation to African swine fever before the first outbreak in Sweden. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:320. [PMID: 39020344 PMCID: PMC11253465 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Sweden was detected in 2023 in wild boar. This study was conducted before the first ASF outbreak with the objective of investigating Swedish hunters' perceptions and practices pertaining to ASF ahead of any potential future outbreak. A mixed-methods interview study with Swedish wild boar hunters, consisting of focus group discussions and a questionnaire, was undertaken between October 2020 and December 2021. Six focus groups were conducted online, and an online questionnaire with questions related to practices and habits concerning hunting, the use of bait and hunting trips was sent to all members of the Swedish Hunting and Wildlife Association. A total of 3244 responses were received. RESULTS Three general themes were identified in a thematic analysis of the data from the focus groups: hunters are willing to engage in ASF prevention and control, simplicity and feasibility are crucial for the implementation of reporting, sampling and control measures, and more information and the greater involvement of the authorities are required in ASF prevention and control. Results from the questionnaire showed that the use of bait was common. Products of animal origin were rarely used for baiting; the most common product used was maize. Hunting trips abroad, especially outside of the Nordic countries, were uncommon. CONCLUSIONS Hunting tourism and the use of bait do not seem to constitute a major risk for the introduction of ASF to wild boar populations in Sweden. The accessibility of relevant information for each concerned stakeholder and the ease of reporting and sampling are crucial to maintain the positive engagement of hunters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Chenais
- Swedish Veterinary Agency, Uppsala, 751 89, Sweden.
- Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden.
| | - Linda Ernholm
- Swedish Veterinary Agency, Uppsala, 751 89, Sweden
- Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden
| | | | - Karl Mård
- Distriktsveterinärerna Borensberg, Borensberg, Sweden
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Fasina FO, Mtui-Malamsha N, Nonga HE, Ranga S, Sambu RM, Majaliwa J, Kamani E, Okuthe S, Kivaria F, Bebay C, Penrith ML. Semiquantitative Risk Evaluation Reveals Drivers of African Swine Fever Virus Transmission in Smallholder Pig Farms and Gaps in Biosecurity, Tanzania. Vet Med Int 2024; 2024:4929141. [PMID: 38770528 PMCID: PMC11105958 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4929141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) has remained persistent in Tanzania since the early 2000s. Between 2020 and 2021, pig farms in twelve districts in Tanzania were infected with ASF, and ≥4,804 pigs reportedly died directly due to the disease with disruption to livelihoods. We conducted semiquantitative field investigations and rapid risk assessment (RRA) to understand the risk factors and drivers of ASF virus (ASFV) amplification and transmission in smallholder pig farms, and determine the gaps in biosecurity through hazard profiling, focus group discussions and expert opinion. Outbreaks were connected by road and aligned along the pig product value chain and reported in the northern, central, and southern parts of Tanzania. The patterns of outbreaks and impacts differed among districts, but cases of ASF appeared to be self-limiting following significant mortality of pigs in farms. Movement of infected pigs, movement of contaminated pig products, and fomites associated with service providers, vehicles, and equipment, as well as the inadvertent risks associated with movements of animal health practitioners, visitors, and scavengers were the riskiest pathways to introduce ASFV into smallholder pig farms. Identified drivers and facilitators of risk of ASFV infection in smallholder pig farms were traders in whole pigs, middlemen, pig farmers, transporters, unauthorized animal health service providers, and traders in pork. All identified pig groups were susceptible to ASFV, particularly shared adult boars, pregnant and lactating sows, and other adult females. The risk of ASF for smallholder pig farms in Tanzania remains very high based on a systematic risk classification. The majority of the farms had poor biosecurity and no single farm implemented all identified biosecurity measures. Risky practices and breaches of biosecurity in the pig value chain in Tanzania are profit driven and are extremely difficult to change. Behavioural change communication must target identified drivers of infections, attitudes, and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Folorunso O. Fasina
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Enos Kamani
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sam Okuthe
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Kivaria
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles Bebay
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mary-Louise Penrith
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
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Wang L, Ganges L, Dixon LK, Bu Z, Zhao D, Truong QL, Richt JA, Jin M, Netherton CL, Benarafa C, Summerfield A, Weng C, Peng G, Reis AL, Han J, Penrith ML, Mo Y, Su Z, Vu Hoang D, Pogranichniy RM, Balaban-Oglan DA, Li Y, Wang K, Cai X, Shi J. 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop: Critical Issues That Need to Be Addressed for ASF Control. Viruses 2023; 16:4. [PMID: 38275939 PMCID: PMC10819980 DOI: 10.3390/v16010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop (IASFW) took place in Beijing, China, on 18-20 September 2023. It was jointly organized by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health (USCCAH) at Kansas State University (KSU) and the Chinese Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA) and sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and Zoetis Inc. The objective of this workshop was to provide a platform for ASF researchers around the world to unite and share their knowledge and expertise on ASF control and prevention. A total of 24 outstanding ASF research scientists and experts from 10 countries attended this meeting. The workshop included presentations on current ASF research, opportunities for scientific collaboration, and discussions of lessons and experiences learned from China/Asia, Africa, and Europe. This article summarizes the meeting highlights and presents some critical issues that need to be addressed for ASF control and prevention in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Wang
- Center on Vaccine Evaluation and Alternatives for Antimicrobials, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (L.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Llilianne Ganges
- WOAH Reference Laboratory for Classical Swine Fever, IRTA-CReSA, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Linda K. Dixon
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK; (L.K.D.); (C.L.N.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Zhigao Bu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China; (Z.B.); (D.Z.)
| | - Dongming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, National High Containment Facilities for Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China; (Z.B.); (D.Z.)
| | - Quang Lam Truong
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi 12406, Vietnam;
| | - Juergen A. Richt
- Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Meilin Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.J.); (G.P.)
| | | | - Charaf Benarafa
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Federal Department of Home Affairs, 3147 Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; (C.B.); (A.S.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Postfach, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Postfach, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Artur Summerfield
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, Federal Department of Home Affairs, 3147 Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; (C.B.); (A.S.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Postfach, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Postfach, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Changjiang Weng
- National African Swine Fever Para-Reference Laboratory, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China;
| | - Guiqing Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.J.); (G.P.)
| | - Ana L. Reis
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK; (L.K.D.); (C.L.N.); (A.L.R.)
| | - Jun Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100107, China;
| | - Mary-Louise Penrith
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa;
| | - Yupeng Mo
- Dekang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Group, Chengdu 610225, China;
| | | | - Dang Vu Hoang
- National Institute of Veterinary Research, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam;
| | - Roman M. Pogranichniy
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - David-Adrian Balaban-Oglan
- Romanian Association of Swine Veterinarians, 013821 Bucharest, Romania;
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Center on Vaccine Evaluation and Alternatives for Antimicrobials, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (L.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Kewen Wang
- Swine Unit, Zoetis China, Beijing 102208, China;
| | - Xuepeng Cai
- Chinese Veterinary Drug Association, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jishu Shi
- Center on Vaccine Evaluation and Alternatives for Antimicrobials, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA; (L.W.); (Y.L.)
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Ekakoro JE, Nawatti M, Singler DF, Ochoa K, Kizza R, Ndoboli D, Ndumu DB, Wampande EM, Havas KA. A survey of biosecurity practices of pig farmers in selected districts affected by African swine fever in Uganda. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1245754. [PMID: 37662985 PMCID: PMC10469975 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1245754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In Uganda, pig production is an important source of livelihood for many people and contributes to food security. African swine fever (ASF) is a major constraint to pig production in Uganda, threatening the food supply and sustainable livelihoods. Prevention of ASF primarily relies on good biosecurity practices along the pig value chain. Previous studies showed that biosecurity along the pig value chain and on farms in Uganda is poor. However, the biosecurity practices of pig farmers in ASF affected areas of Uganda and their opinions on on-farm ASF morbidity and mortality were previously not comprehensively characterized. The objectives of this study were to document pig farmers' experiences with ASF in their farms and to describe the pig biosecurity practices in districts of Uganda that were highly affected by ASF. Methods A total of 99 farmers were interviewed in five districts. Data were collected by way of triangulation through farmer interviews, field observations during the farmer interviews, and a survey of key informants. However, farmer interviews were considered the primary source of data for this study. Farmers' biosecurity practices were scored using a biosecurity scoring algorithm. Results Forty-one out of 96 (42.7%) farmers reported having pigs with ASF in the past 12 months. The level of pig farming experience (p = 0.0083) and herd size (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with the reported occurrence of ASF. Overall, the biosecurity scores for the respondents were considered poor with 99% (98/99) scoring <70% and just one farmer obtaining a fair score of 72.2%. District (p = 0.0481), type of husbandry system (p = 0.014), and type of pig breed raised (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with farmer's biosecurity score. Conclusion Continued farmer education on ASF and the importance of good biosecurity practices is necessary. More in-depth scientific inquiry into the factors influencing the biosecurity practices among pig farmers in Uganda is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Ekakoro
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Margaret Nawatti
- Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David F. Singler
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Krista Ochoa
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Robinah Kizza
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dickson Ndoboli
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Deo B. Ndumu
- Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Eddie M. Wampande
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Karyn A. Havas
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Innovative Research Offers New Hope for Managing African Swine Fever Better in Resource-Limited Smallholder Farming Settings: A Timely Update. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020355. [PMID: 36839627 PMCID: PMC9963711 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs has, since its discovery in Africa more than a century ago, been associated with subsistence pig keeping with low levels of biosecurity. Likewise, smallholder and backyard pig farming in resource-limited settings have been notably affected during the ongoing epidemic in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Caribbean regions. Many challenges to managing ASF in such settings have been identified in the ongoing as well as previous epidemics. Consistent implementation of biosecurity at all nodes in the value chain remains most important for controlling and preventing ASF. Recent research from Asia, Africa, and Europe has provided science-based information that can be of value in overcoming some of the hurdles faced for implementing biosecurity in resource-limited contexts. In this narrative review we examine a selection of these studies elucidating innovative solutions such as shorter boiling times for inactivating ASF virus in swill, participatory planning of interventions for risk mitigation for ASF, better understanding of smallholder pig-keeper perceptions and constraints, modified culling, and safe alternatives for disposal of carcasses of pigs that have died of ASF. The aim of the review is to increase acceptance and implementation of science-based approaches that increase the feasibility of managing, and the possibility to prevent, ASF in resource-limited settings. This could contribute to protecting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods that depend upon pigs and enable small-scale pig production to reach its full potential for poverty alleviation and food security.
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