African swine fever (ASF)

Lactating piglets

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Lack of coordination.
• Conjunctivitis.
• High fever.
• Sudden death.
• Malformations.
• Very weak piglets at birth (congenital tremor).
• High mortality.

Sows

• Loss of appetite.
• High fever.
• Abortions.
• Increment of stillbirths.
• Increment of mummified piglets.
• Seizures.
• Lack of coordination.
• Diarrhea.
• General reproductive failure.
• Blue discoloration of the skin.

Nursery and fattening

• Depressed pigs - with their head down.
• They stop eating.
• Diarrhea.
• Eye discharge.
• Persistent high fever.
• Nervous signs.
• Seizures.
• Lack of coordination.
• Blue discoloration of the skin.
• High mortality.

• The virus is transmitted from infected pigs. Blood and fomites contaminated with infectious blood are the highest risk route of transmission, as blood contains a high viral load. Other routes of viral shedding include oronasal secretions, urine, feces, and conjunctival and genital secretions.
• The virus is highly resistant in organic matter (especially in blood and bone marrow) and at low temperatures.
• The virus can be transmitted by ticks (especially of the genus Ornithodorus)
• Airborne transmission can occur over short distances (up to 2-3 meters).
• It can enter a farm through contaminated meat (can be transmitted through uncooked pork meat or cured meat).
• Mechanical transmission is common through boots, clothing, trucks, etc.

• It presents post-mortem changes with hemorrhagic lymph nodes, necrotic areas in the spleen, multiple small hemorrhages in kidneys and button ulcers in the intestine.
• In all suspected cases the diagnosis should be confirmed by laboratory analysis.
• Laboratory analysis include the identification of virus via PCR, isolation of the virus and the presence of antibodies in serum. In most countries, the ASF is a notifiable disease.

• This disease continues to spread outside Africa especially recently in parts of Eastern Europe, Asia, European Union, and Haiti.  
• Currently, no effective vaccines available.
• Stamping-out.
• Countries free of ASF prevent infection from abroad controlling the importation of pigs and pig meat products, if not properly processed, if they come from countries with ASF. In addition, the organic fraction of waste that may contain meat products must be sterilized by heat.
• The risk of wild boars accessing irregularly imported pork waste has been considered the greatest risk of entry and spread of ASF in the EU.
• In Africa and affected areas: they must keep wild swine and materials contaminated away from pig farms.