scholarly journals African Swine Fever Re-Emerging in Estonia: The Role of Seropositive Wild Boar from an Epidemiological Perspective

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2121
Author(s):  
Katja Schulz ◽  
Jana Schulz ◽  
Christoph Staubach ◽  
Sandra Blome ◽  
Imbi Nurmoja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Cluster Analyses ◽  
Ongoing Surveillance ◽  
Low Prevalence

African swine fever (ASF) emerged in Estonia in 2014. From February 2019 to August 2020, no pigs or wild boar tested positive for ASF virus (ASFV), only ASFV-specific antibodies could be detected in shot wild boar. However, ASF recently re-emerged in wild boar. We tested three hypotheses that might explain the current situation: (i) ASFV may have been present throughout, but at a prevalence below the detection limit; (ii) seropositive wild boar may have remained infectious (i.e., virus-carriers) and kept the epidemic going; or (iii) ASF was gone for 1.5 years, but was recently re-introduced. Using Estonian surveillance data, the sensitivity of the surveillance system and the confidence in freedom from ASF were estimated. Furthermore, the detection probability was determined and cluster analyses were performed to investigate the role of serological positive wild boar. The results suggest that the surveillance system was not able to detect virus circulation at a design prevalence below 1%. With respect to the confidence in freedom from ASF, the results indicate that circulating virus should have been detected over time, if the prevalence was ≥2%. However, the decreasing wild boar population density and ongoing surveillance activities made ASFV circulation at a low prevalence unlikely. Cluster analyses provided no evidence for a significant accumulation of serologically positive wild boar in temporal connection to the re-emergence of ASFV. Further targeted research, such as long-term experimental studies and molecular epidemiology, is necessary to improve our knowledge on the epidemiology of ASF and to control the disease more effectively.

scholarly journals African Swine Fever in Wild Boar (Poland 2020): Passive and Active Surveillance Analysis and Further Perspectives

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1219
Author(s):  
Maciej Piotr Frant ◽  
Anna Gal-Cisoń ◽  
Łukasz Bocian ◽  
Anna Ziętek-Barszcz ◽  
Krzysztof Niemczuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Hemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Surveillance Analysis ◽  
Eastern And Western Europe

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal hemorrhagic disease of wild boar and domestic pigs which has been present in Poland since 2014. By 2020, the ASF virus (ASFV) spread across Central, Eastern and Western Europe (including Germany), and Asian countries (including China, Vietnam, and South Korea). The national ASF eradication and prevention program includes continuous passive (wild boar found dead and road-killed wild boar) and active (hunted wild boar) surveillance. The main goal of this study was to analyze the dynamic of the spread of ASF in the wild boar population across the territory of Poland in 2020. In that year in Poland, in total 6191 ASF-positive wild boar were declared. Most of them were confirmed in a group of animals found dead. The conducted statistical analysis indicates that the highest chance of obtaining an ASF-positive result in wild boar was during the winter months, from January to March, and in December 2020. Despite the biosecurity measures implemented by holdings of domestic pigs, the disease also occurred in 109 pig farms. The role of ASF surveillance in the wild boar population is crucial to apply more effective and tailored measures of disease control and eradication. The most essential measures to maintain sustainable production of domestic pigs in Poland include effective management of the wild boar population, along with strict implementation of biosecurity measures by domestic pig producers.

scholarly journals What Do Lithuanian Hunters Think of African Swine Fever and Its Control—Perceptions

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Evelina Stončiūtė ◽  
Katja Schulz ◽  
Alvydas Malakauskas ◽  
Franz J. Conraths ◽  
Marius Masiulis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Governmental Institutions

After the introduction of African swine fever (ASF) into Lithuania in 2014, continuous spread of the disease resulted in infection of the wild boar populations in most parts of Lithuania. The virus has been moving closer to other Western European countries where pig density is high. An efficient surveillance system detecting ASF cases early in domestic and wild animals is necessary to manage this disease. To make surveillance appropriate and effective, it is critical to understand how key players perceive the implemented control measures. This study investigated the attitudes and beliefs of hunters in Lithuania regarding currently implemented or proposed measures for the control of ASF in the wild boar population. Study data were collected through questionnaires distributed via the internet and by hunting associations in Lithuania. In total, 621 fully completed questionnaires were received and analyzed. All measures interfering with extensive hunting, like ban of driven or individual hunting or ban of supplementary feeding were considered as unacceptable and as ineffective measures to control ASF in wild boar. However, selective hunting of female wild boar was generally considered as an unethical act and therefore rejected. Some measures that seem to have been successful in other countries, like involvement of additional forces, were rejected by Lithuanian hunters, thus implementation of these measures could be difficult. The study highlighted that there is a need for improving important relationships with other stakeholders, since many hunters expressed a lack of trust in governmental institutions and regarded cooperation with them as insufficient. Hunters emphasized that their motivation to support passive surveillance measures could be improved with financial compensation and reduction of workload. The present study provides insights into hunters’ perceptions, which may be used as a foundation for additional discussions with these important stakeholders and for adapting measures to improve their acceptance if appropriate.

scholarly journals How to Demonstrate Freedom from African Swine Fever in Wild Boar—Estonia as an Example

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Schulz ◽  
Christoph Staubach ◽  
Sandra Blome ◽  
Imbi Nurmoja ◽  
Arvo Viltrop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Trade Restrictions ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
In The Wild

Estonia has been combatting African swine fever (ASF) for six years now. Since October 2017, the disease has only been detected in the wild boar population, but trade restrictions had to remain in place due to international regulations. Yet, the epidemiological course of the disease has changed within the last few years. The prevalence of ASF virus (ASFV)-positive wild boar decreased steadily towards 0%. In February 2019, the last ASFV-positive wild boar was detected. Since then, positive wild boar samples have exclusively been positive for ASFV-specific antibodies, suggesting the possible absence of circulating ASFV in the Estonian wild boar population. However, as the role of seropositive animals is controversially discussed and the presence of antibody-carriers is regarded as an indication of virus circulation at EU and OIE level, Estonia remains under trade restrictions. To make the disease status of a country reliable for trading partners and to facilitate the process of declaration of disease freedom, we suggest to monitor the prevalence of seropositive wild boar in absence of ASFV-positive animals. The possibility to include ASF in the list of diseases, for which an official pathway for recognition of disease status is defined by the OIE should be evaluated.

scholarly journals The Role of Interleukine-10 and Interferon-γ as Potential Markers of the Evolution of African Swine Fever Virus Infection in Wild Boar

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 757
Author(s):  
Sandra Barroso-Arévalo ◽  
Jose A. Barasona ◽  
Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández ◽  
José M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
African Swine Fever Virus ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Challenge Virus ◽  
Ifn Γ

African swine fever virus (ASFv) is one of the most challenging pathogens to affect both domestic and wild pigs. The disease has now spread to Europe and Asia, causing great damage to the pig industry. Although no commercial vaccine with which to control the disease is, as yet, available, some potential vaccine candidates have shown good results in terms of protection. However, little is known about the host immune mechanisms underlying that protection, especially in wild boar, which is the main reservoir of the disease in Europe. Here, we study the role played by two cytokines (IL-10 and IFN-γ) in wild boar orally inoculated with the attenuated vaccine candidate Lv17/WB/Rie1 and challenged with a virulent ASFv genotype II isolate. A group of naïve wild boar challenged with the latter isolate was also established as a control group. Our results showed that both cytokines play a key role in protecting the host against the challenge virus. While high levels of IL-10 in serum may trigger an immune system malfunctioning in challenged animals, the provision of stable levels of this cytokine over time may help to control the disease. This, together with high and timely induction of IFN-γ by the vaccine candidate, could help protect animals from fatal outcomes. Further studies should be conducted in order to support these preliminary results and confirm the role of these two cytokines as potential markers of the evolution of ASFV infection.

scholarly journals The potential role of scavengers in spreading African swine fever among wild boar

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Probst ◽  
Jörn Gethmann ◽  
Susanne Amler ◽  
Anja Globig ◽  
Bent Knoll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
African Swine Fever

scholarly journals Emergence of African Swine Fever in Poland (2014–2021). Successes and Failures in Disease Eradication

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 738
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Woźniakowski ◽  
Zygmunt Pejsak ◽  
Artur Jabłoński
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Domestic Pig ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Disease Eradication ◽  
Pig Production

African swine fever (ASF) in Poland has been a major concern for pig production for the last seven years. The main constrains in ASF eradication in Poland are due to the high density of wild boar in ASF-affected areas of the country. Other factors, responsible for long-distance ASF spread to new regions of the country, are mainly related to human-mediated activity and lack of awareness of the potential disease threat to pig production. In the case of pig holdings, the only effective measure of ASF prevention is strict implementation of biosecurity rules. Despite many efforts to implement these measures, the disease occurred in a number of voivodeships, poviats and counties of Poland, primarily in eastern Poland; however, starting from 2019, also in the western part of the country. Further recommendations to eradicate ASF in Poland or at least to minimize the economic loss caused by ASF in pig production include effective wild boar population management strategies along with the implementation of strict biosecurity measures. The observations from the last seven years of ASF epizootic in Poland clearly indicate that the disease could not have been effectively controlled in wild boar population and could only be restricted in domestic pig population following severe biosecurity rules. As for ASF spread control in wild boar population, the measures applied in other EU countries include active wild boar carcass search and disposal along with sanitary and reduction hunting. These measures have also been shown non-effective. The only solution for future sustainable pig production in Poland seems to be strict collaboration between pig producers, veterinary inspection, and hunting associations.

scholarly journals Disease-Induced Mortality Outweighs Hunting in Causing Wild Boar Population Crash After African Swine Fever Outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Morelle ◽  
Jakub Bubnicki ◽  
Marcin Churski ◽  
Jakub Gryz ◽  
Tomasz Podgórski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Population Crash

scholarly journals African Swine Fever Status in Europe

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Przemyslaw Cwynar ◽  
Jane Stojkov ◽  
Klaudia Wlazlak
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Wild Boar ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Wild Boar Population ◽  
Domestic Pig ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Virus Spreading

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease that affects the domestic pig and wild boar population. The aim of this study was to describe the introduction and spread of the ASF virus in Western Europe (1960–1995) and in Eastern Europe (2007–2018), with particular emphasis on the current ASF situation in Poland and its challenges and future perspectives. The first ASF outbreak in Europe was reported in Portugal in 1957, with the virus spreading over most of Western Europe over the next 30 years. In Eastern Europe, the virus was first observed in Georgia in 2007, from where the disease spread quickly to other neighboring countries, reaching Poland in 2014. Since then, there have been 3341 confirmed cases in the wild boar population in Poland. Although there have been no confirmed cases of wild boars coming into contact with domestic pigs, the first notified case concerning domestic pigs was reported in July 2014. Since then, there have been a total of 213 confirmed outbreaks of ASF on Polish pig farms. Given the virulence of the ASF virus and the myriad of transmission routes across Europe, the monitoring of this disease must be a priority for Europe.

scholarly journals Vision of the role of long-term social stress in the formation of "diseases of civilization". mechanisms of adaptation to stressor situations and factors of its failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 325-331
Author(s):  
O. Hancheva ◽  
K. Romanova
Keyword(s):  
Social Stress ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
The Impact

Today, the issue of studying the mechanisms of the impact of social stress on public health and its role in the formation of key human diseases is relevant and necessary. A large number of works, both clinical observations and experimental studies, are devoted to this problem. However, despite the high interest in this problem, there are still "white spots". Therefore, the purpose of our study was to analyze modern sources of information that highlight current issues of long-term social stress and its role in the formation of "diseases of civilization." Matherials and methods: analysis of scientific publications from the following databases: Google Scholar, Web of Science, Pub Med, by keywords: rats, social stress, diseases of civilization, neuroendocrine regulation, hypothalamus, supraoptic nucleus, paravetricular nucleus. Conclusions: Thus, the analysis of resources shows the undoubted role of stress in the formation of human diseases. Many articles are devoted to the description and analysis of the negative effects of environmental factors and peculiarities of living conditions on human health. Most researchers agree on the key role of the hypothalamus in regulating the body's stress response and the presence of morphofunctional changes associated with stress. It is important to note that scientists have paid much attention to the study of individual models of stress, namely pain, immobilization and hypoxic over the past 20 years. Unfortunately, there are few facts concerning the analysis of the influence of long-term negative social factors that do not cause stereotyped reactions, but form latent changes that are inherent in classical stress reactions.

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