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Porras N, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Rodríguez-Bertos A, Kosowska A, Barasona JÁ. Tertiary lymphoid organs in wild boar exposed to a low-virulent isolate of African swine fever virus. Vet Q 2024; 44:1-13. [PMID: 38533618 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2331525] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the great interest in the development of a vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar, the immunological mechanisms that induce animal protection are still unknown. For this purpose, tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) of wild boar were characterised and compared with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs) by histopathology, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry (CD3, CD79, PAX5, LYVE1, fibronectin). In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (p72) were used to evaluate the presence of ASF virus (ASFV) in blood and tissues samples, respectively. TLOs were observed in animals infected with a low-virulent ASFV isolate (LVI), animals co-infected with low and high-virulent ASFV isolates (LVI-HVI) and animals infected only with the high virulence isolate (HVI). TLOs in LVI and LVI-HVI groups were located adjacent to the mucosa and presented a similar structure to MALT. Immunoexpresion of p72 observed in the inflammatory cells adjacent to TLOs/MALTs confirmed its development and reactivity generated by ASF attenuated isolates. Immunohistochemical evaluation, based on cellular composition (T and B lymphocytes), and histomorphometrical study revealed a more pronounced maturation of TLOs/MALTs in the LVI-HVI group. It is currently unclear whether these formations play a protective role by contributing to local immunity in chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the structural similarities between TLOs and MALTs and the location of TLOs close to the mucosa suggest that they may perform a similar function, facilitating a local protective response. Nevertheless, further investigations are warranted to assess the cellular and humoral dynamics of these lymphoid organs induced by attenuated isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néstor Porras
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aleksandra Kosowska
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Á Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Calò S, Tironi M, Cappa V, Scaburri A, Perna SF, Chiari M, Marracci M, Bellini S. Evaluation of the Risk of African Swine Fever Virus Transmission at the Interface between Feral and Domestic Pigs in Lombardy, with a View to Establishing Preventive Measures for Domestic Pigs. Pathogens 2023; 12:1462. [PMID: 38133345 PMCID: PMC10748101 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121462] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread worldwide, and has reached multiple countries across Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific, representing a serious economic burden threatening pig health and welfare, as well as food security. The disease affects domestic pigs and wild boar, and in several European countries the disease is endemic in wild boars. The lack of vaccines or effective treatments highlights the importance of effective control measures used to keep domestic and feral pigs separated to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the study of the livestock-wildlife interface is quite complex and has many aspects to consider, including the uncertainty of wild-boar population data. In this study, we determined the risk of spread of the ASF virus at the interface between domestic pigs and wild boars using indicators that can indirectly indicate the presence of wild boars in order to target specific control measures in the highest risk areas. The results of the study were compared with those obtained by Pittiglio, in which the population data for wild boars was estimated using a geostatistical method and similar results were obtained. However, the present study used specific information relating to the wild-boar population and this allowed us to use fewer variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Calò
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
| | - Marco Tironi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
| | - Veronica Cappa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
| | - Alessandra Scaburri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
| | - Stefano Francesco Perna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
| | - Mario Chiari
- Direzione Generale Welfare di Regione Lombardia, Unità Organizzativa Veterinaria, Piazza Città di Lombardia, 20124 Milan, Italy;
| | - Massimo Marracci
- Direzione Generale Agricoltura, Sovranità Alimentare e Foreste di Regione Lombardia, Unità Organizzativa Politiche Ittiche-Faunistico-Venatorie, Forestali e Montagna, Piazza Città di Lombardia, 20124 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silvia Bellini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi, 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (S.C.); (M.T.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (S.F.P.)
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Kuthyar S, Diaz J, Avalos-Villatoro F, Maltecca C, Tiezzi F, Dunn RR, Reese AT. Domestication shapes the pig gut microbiome and immune traits from the scale of lineage to population. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1695-1711. [PMID: 37885134 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14227] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Animal ecology and evolution have long been known to shape host physiology, but more recently, the gut microbiome has been identified as a mediator between animal ecology and evolution and health. The gut microbiome has been shown to differ between wild and domestic animals, but the role of these differences for domestic animal evolution remains unknown. Gut microbiome responses to new animal genotypes and local environmental change during domestication may promote specific host phenotypes that are adaptive (or not) to the domestic environment. Because the gut microbiome supports host immune function, understanding the effects of animal ecology and evolution on the gut microbiome and immune phenotypes is critical. We investigated how domestication affects the gut microbiome and host immune state in multiple pig populations across five domestication contexts representing domestication status and current living conditions: free-ranging wild, captive wild, free-ranging domestic, captive domestic in research or industrial settings. We observed that domestication context explained much of the variation in gut microbiome composition, pathogen abundances and immune markers, yet the main differences in the repertoire of metabolic genes found in the gut microbiome were between the wild and domestic genetic lineages. We also documented population-level effects within domestication contexts, demonstrating that fine scale environmental variation also shaped host and microbe features. Our findings highlight that understanding which gut microbiome and immune traits respond to host genetic lineage and/or scales of local ecology could inform targeted interventions that manipulate the gut microbiome to achieve beneficial health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Kuthyar
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jessica Diaz
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Christian Maltecca
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Francesco Tiezzi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Robert R Dunn
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aspen T Reese
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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4
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Cancela F, Cravino A, Icasuriaga R, González P, Bentancor F, Leizagoyen C, Echaides C, Ferreiro I, Cabrera A, Arbiza J, Mirazo S. Co-circulation of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Genotype 3 and Moose-HEV-Like Strains in Free-Ranging-Spotted Deer (Axis axis) in Uruguay. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2023; 15:281-291. [PMID: 37642917 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-023-09563-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emerging foodborne zoonosis in industrialized, non-endemic countries. Domestic pigs and wild boars are considered the main reservoir of HEV. However, HEV can also infect an ever-expanding host range of animals, but they exact role in transmitting the virus to other species or humans is mostly unknown. In this work, we investigated the spread of HEV in free-living and captive spotted deer (Axis axis) from Uruguay in a 2-year period (2020-2022) and examined the role of this invasive species as a new potential reservoir of the virus. In addition, with the aim to gain new insights into viral ecology in the context of One Health, by using camera trapping, we identified and quantified temporal and spatial coexistence of spotted deer, wild boars, and cattle. In free-living animals, we detected an anti-HEV seropositivity of 11.1% (6/54). HEV infection and viral excretion in feces were assessed by RT-PCR. Thirteen of 19 samples (68.4%) had HEV RNA. Six samples were amplified using a broadly reactive RT-PCR and sequenced. No captive animal showed evidence of HEV infection. Additionally, HEV RNA was detected in a freshwater pond shared by these species. Phylogenetic and p-distance analysis revealed that zoonotic HEV genotype 3 strains circulate together with unclassified variants related to moose HEV whose potential risk of transmission to humans and other domestic and wild animals is unknown. The data presented here suggest that spotted deer (A. axis) may be a novel host for zoonotic HEV strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Cancela
- Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alexandra Cravino
- Grupo Biodiversidad y Ecología de la Conservación, Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Romina Icasuriaga
- Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | | | - Carmen Leizagoyen
- Parque Lecocq, Intendencia Municipal de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - César Echaides
- Parque Lecocq, Intendencia Municipal de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Irene Ferreiro
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés Cabrera
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Arbiza
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Pepin KM, Borowik T, Frant M, Plis K, Podgórski T. Risk of African swine fever virus transmission among wild boar and domestic pigs in Poland. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1295127. [PMID: 38026636 PMCID: PMC10657852 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1295127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable disease of swine that impacts global pork trade and food security. In several countries across the globe, the disease persists in wild boar (WB) populations sympatric to domestic pig (DP) operations, with continued detections in both sectors. While there is evidence of spillover and spillback between the sectors, the frequency of occurrence and relative importance of different risk factors for transmission at the wildlife-livestock interface remain unclear. Methods To address this gap, we leveraged ASF surveillance data from WB and DP across Eastern Poland from 2014-2019 in an analysis that quantified the relative importance of different risk factors for explaining variation in each of the ASF surveillance data from WB and DP. Results ASF prevalence exhibited different seasonal trends across the sectors: apparent prevalence was much higher in summer (84% of detections) in DP, but more consistent throughout the year in WB (highest in winter with 45%, lowest in summer at 15%). Only 21.8% of DP-positive surveillance data included surveillance in WB nearby (within 5 km of the grid cell within the last 4 weeks), while 41.9% of WB-positive surveillance samples included any DP surveillance samples nearby. Thus, the surveillance design afforded twice as much opportunity to find DP-positive samples in the recent vicinity of WB-positive samples compared to the opposite, yet the rate of positive WB samples in the recent vicinity of a positive DP sample was 48 times as likely than the rate of positive DP samples in the recent vicinity of a positive WB sample. Our machine learning analyses found that positive samples in WB were predicted by WB-related risk factors, but not to DP-related risk factors. In contrast, WB risk factors were important for predicting detections in DP on a few spatial and temporal scales of data aggregation. Discussion Our results highlight that spillover from WB to DP might be more frequent than the reverse, but that the structure of current surveillance systems challenge quantification of spillover frequency and risk factors. Our results emphasize the importance of, and provide guidance for, improving cross-sector surveillance designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M. Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Tomasz Borowik
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Maciej Frant
- Department of Swine Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Kamila Plis
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Tomasz Podgórski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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6
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Kosowska A, Barasona JA, Barroso-Arévalo S, Blondeau Leon L, Cadenas-Fernández E, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Low transmission risk of African swine fever virus between wild boar infected by an attenuated isolate and susceptible domestic pigs. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1177246. [PMID: 37635760 PMCID: PMC10448392 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1177246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal infectious disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. This complex virus has already affected five continents and more than 70 countries and is considered to be the main threat to the global swine industry. The disease can potentially be transmitted directly through contact with infectious animals, or indirectly by means of contaminated feed or environments. Nevertheless, the knowledge regarding the transmission patterns of different ASF virus isolates at the wildlife-livestock interface is still limited. We have, therefore, assessed the potential transmission of an attenuated ASF virus isolate between infectious wild boar and directly exposed domestic pig. We registered 3,369 interspecific interactions between animals, which were brief and mostly initiated by wild boar. The major patterns observed during the study were head-to-head contact owing to sniffing, thus suggesting a high probability of pathogen transmission. However, only one of the five domestic pigs had a short period of viremia and became serologically positive for ASF virus antibodies. It was additionally discovered that the wild boar did not transmit the virulent virus isolate to the domestic pigs, which suggests that the presence of attenuated ASF virus isolates in affected areas may control the spreading of other more virulent isolates. These outcomes may help make decisions related to large-scale targeted management actions against ASF in field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kosowska
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luisa Blondeau Leon
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Faustini G, Tucciarone CM, Legnardi M, Grassi L, Berto G, Drigo M, Cecchinato M, Franzo G. Into the backyard: Multiple detections of PCV-2e in rural pig farms of Northern Italy. An unexpected ecological niche? Prev Vet Med 2023; 216:105943. [PMID: 37216841 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105943] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) is among the most burdensome viruses of the swine industry globally. Several genotypes have been periodically emerging, but just three of them (PCV-2a, PCV-2b, and PCV-2d) seem to circulate worldwide and be associated with the disease. Conversely, the spatial-temporal distribution of minor genotypes appears limited and their clinical relevance is still unclear. Recently PCV-2e was incidentally detected for the first time in Europe in a breeding farm in Northeastern Italy, while no connection could be established with countries where this genotype had been previously detected. To investigate circulating genotypes in the neglected rural context and provide a comparison with the most explored industrial context, a molecular survey was performed on samples collected in rural (n = 72) and industrial farms (n = 110) located in the same geographic area. Phylogenetic analysis surprisingly evidenced PCV-2e circulation only in pigs reared in backyard farms (n = 5), while major genotypes (PCV-2a, -2b, -2d) circulate in both rearing contexts. However, the close genetic similarity between the herein detected PCV-2e strains and the previously reported one testify that, although unusual, such rural-to-industrial strains exchange affected also PCV-2e. The greater genetic and phenotypic diversity of PCV-2e genotype compared to other ones might threaten the protection granted by current vaccines. The present study suggests the rural context as an ecological niche for the circulation of PCV-2e, and even of other minor genotypes. PCV-2e detection in pigs with outdoor access further stresses the epidemiological role of backyard farms as interfaces for pathogen introduction, potentially ascribable to the different rearing approaches, lower managerial and biosecurity capabilities, and easier contacts with wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Faustini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Claudia Maria Tucciarone
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Matteo Legnardi
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Laura Grassi
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Giacomo Berto
- Dipartimento di Prevenzione, AULSS 8 Berica, Via Giovanni Giuseppe Cappellari 6, Vicenza 36100, Italy
| | - Michele Drigo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Mattia Cecchinato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, Legnaro 35020, PD, Italy.
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Not Just Pictures: Utility of Camera Trapping in the Context of African Swine Fever and Wild Boar Management. Transbound Emerg Dis 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/7820538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease affecting all suids and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Since 2007, ASF has spread to more than 30 countries in Europe and Asian regions, and the most recent outbreak has been in mainland Italy (reported on January 2022). When the genotype II of the ASF virus infects a population, a mortality rate close to 90% is usually reported. This drop in wild boar abundance produces a cascade effect in the entire ecosystem. In this context, effective monitoring tools for deriving management parameters are a priority aspect, and the utility of camera trapping could have been overlooked. Here, sampling the infected area in north Italy, we showed the utility of camera traps in the context of ASF infection. Specifically, we used 43 camera traps randomly distributed to (i) estimate movement parameters and population density of wild boar, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wolf (Canis lupus); (ii) quantify wild boar recruitment; and (iii) assess whether the human restriction rules are being met. On the first spring after the outbreak detection, our results for wild boar indicated a density of 0.27 ind·km−2 ± 0.11 (standard error, SE), a daily activity level of 0.49 ± 0.07 (i.e., 11.76 h·day−1), a daily distance travelled of 9.07 ± 1.80 km·day−1, a litter size of 1.72 piglets·group−1, and a 72% of pregnant females. Despite human outdoor activities being restricted in the infected zone, we recorded human presence in 19 camera traps. The wide range of parameters estimated from the camera trap data, together with some intrinsic and practical advantages of this tool, allows us to conclude that camera traps are well positioned to be a reference approach to monitor populations affected by ASF. The population-specific parameters are of prime importance for optimizing ASF control efforts.
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9
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Oberin M, Hillman A, Ward MP, Holley C, Firestone S, Cowled B. The Potential Role of Wild Suids in African Swine Fever Spread in Asia and the Pacific Region. Viruses 2022; 15:61. [PMID: 36680101 PMCID: PMC9867030 DOI: 10.3390/v15010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) in Asia and the Pacific is currently dominated by ASF virus transmission within and between domestic pig populations. The contribution made by wild suids is currently not well understood; their distribution, density and susceptibility to the virus has raised concerns that their role in the epidemiology of ASF in the region might be underestimated. Whilst in the Republic of Korea wild suids are considered important in the spread and maintenance of ASF virus, there is an apparent underreporting to official sources of the disease in wild suids from other countires and regions. A review of the current literature, an analysis of the official reporting resources and a survey of the World Organisation of Animal Health Member delegates in Asia and the Pacific were used to assess the potential role of wild suids in ASF outbreaks, and also to gain insight into what ASF management or control strategies are currently implemented for wild suids. Applying appropriate population control and management strategies can be increased in some areas, especially to assist in the conservation of endangered endemic wild suids in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalene Oberin
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Ausvet, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Alison Hillman
- Ausvet, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Michael P. Ward
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
| | - Caitlin Holley
- The World Organisation for Animal Health, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Simon Firestone
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Brendan Cowled
- Ausvet, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia
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10
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Wang S, Shen H, Lin Q, Huang J, Zhang C, Liu Z, Sun M, Zhang J, Liao M, Li Y, Zhang J. Development of a Cleaved Probe-Based Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of African Swine Fever Virus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:884430. [PMID: 35719327 PMCID: PMC9204333 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.884430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
African Swine Fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious and lethal viral disease of pigs. However, commercial vaccines are not yet available, and neither are drugs to prevent or control ASF. Therefore, rapid, accurate on-site diagnosis is urgently needed for detection during the early stages of ASFV infection. Herein, a cleaved probe-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (CP-LAMP) detection method was established. Based on the original primer sets, we targeted the ASFV 9GL gene sequence to design a probe harboring a ribonucleotide insertion. Ribonuclease H2 (RNase H2) enzyme activity can only be activated when the probe is perfectly complementary, resulting in hydrolytic release of a quencher moiety, and consequent signal amplification. The method displayed robust sensitivity, with copy number detection as low as 13 copies/µL within 40 min at constant temperature (62°C). Visualization of the fluorescence product was employed using a self-designed 3D-printed visualization function cassette, and the CP-LAMP method achieved specific identification and visual detection of ASFV. Moreover, coupling the dual function cassette and smartphone quantitation makes the CP-LAMP assay first user-friendly, cost-effective, portable, rapid, and accurate point-of-care testing (POCT) platform for ASFV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province; The Research Center for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Shen
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Qijie Lin
- Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province; The Research Center for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhong Zhang
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Zhicheng Liu
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Minhua Sun
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Ming Liao
- Maoming Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for LingNan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Foshan, China
| | - Yugu Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province; The Research Center for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonoses Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province; The Research Center for African Swine Fever Prevention and Control; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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11
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Cadenas-Fernández E, Ito S, Aguilar-Vega C, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Bosch J. The Role of the Wild Boar Spreading African Swine Fever Virus in Asia: Another Underestimated Problem. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:844209. [PMID: 35573420 PMCID: PMC9093143 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.844209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal infectious disease in naive populations of domestic pigs and wild boar. In Asia, from the first outbreak in August 2018 until the end of November 2021, ASF has been reported in 16 Asian countries. The ASF virus (ASFV) circulation in domestic pigs is considered the main problem in Asia. On the other hand, there are very few reports of ASF in wild boar in this region. However, considering the high wild boar density within the same area of smallholder domestic pig farms in Asia, the occurrence of ASFV infection in wild boar may be underestimated. The role of the wild boar in other ASF epidemiological scenarios, such as Europe, is a key for the maintenance and transmission of the disease. Hence, we performed a preliminary study estimating the extent of ASFV infection in the Asian wild boar population. The potential risk area of ASF-infected wild boar was calculated based on the habitat suitability for wild boar, the kernel density of ASF notification in smallholder farms and wild boar, and the ASFV transmission rate of wild boar. As a result of the analysis, high-, medium-, and low-risk areas were identified throughout Southeast and East Asia. The highest risk area was detected in China, followed by Myanmar, Far East Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Additionally, another risk area was detected from northeastern China to the Korean Peninsula, including Far East Russia. This study shows hot spots where a high risk of infection in wild boar is most likely to occur, helping to control ASF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
| | - Satoshi Ito
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Aguilar-Vega
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Jaime Bosch
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12
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Characterization and management of interaction risks between livestock and wild ungulates on outdoor pig farms in Spain. Porcine Health Manag 2022; 8:2. [PMID: 34986896 PMCID: PMC8734068 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-021-00246-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To control the transmission of relevant shared diseases, such as animal tuberculosis (TB) and African swine fever (ASF), it is essential to reduce the risk of interaction between livestock and wild ungulates. In Eastern and Central Europe, the current spread of ASF virus affecting wild boar and domestic pigs (especially those raised outdoors and/or in backyards) has devastated the pig sector in affected regions and is seriously threatening other exporting countries. Here, we evaluated the risk of wildlife-livestock interactions on 45 outdoor pig farms in Spain, the second largest pork producer in the EU and then proposed biosecurity-related actions. An integrated, systematic wildlife risk mitigation protocol based on interviews, questionnaires and field audits was developed and applied on each farm. Results Most of the interaction risk points were associated with water sources (84.2%; 701/832), mainly springs and ponds, which accounted for almost all the specific points with high or very high risk scores. The risk of interaction at feeding points (6.9%; 57/832) and those associated with facilities for livestock and/or game management (8.9%; 74/832) were rated as low and very low risk, respectively. Wild boar were present and hunted on 69% of the farms. Supplementary feeding for wild ungulate species (mainly wild boar) was provided on almost half (48.9%; 22/45) the surveyed farms. Risk mitigation actions were categorised to target water access, waterers, food, other livestock species, grazing, wildlife, and offal disposal. Of the total number of actions (n = 2016), 82.7% were identified as priority actions while 17.3% represented alternative options which were identified less cost-effective. On average, 37.1 (median: 32; range 14–113) action proposals per study farm were made and 2.0 (median: 1; range 0–4) per risk point. The mean estimated cost of implementing the proposed priority actions was 14,780 €/farm (25.7 €/hectare and 799.4 €/risk point). Conclusions This study expands the knowledge of interaction risks between domestic pigs and wild ungulates in outdoor pig farming systems and highlights the importance of considering local risks and management practices when designing and prioritising adapted wildlife risk mitigation and biosecurity actions. This practical and feasible protocol developed for Mediterranean ecosystems is easily transferable to professionals and can be adapted to extensive (outdoor) production or epidemiological systems in other European regions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40813-021-00246-7.
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13
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Bacigalupo SA, Dixon LK, Gubbins S, Kucharski AJ, Drewe JA. Wild boar visits to commercial pig farms in southwest England: implications for disease transmission. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022; 68:69. [PMID: 36213142 PMCID: PMC9532280 DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01618-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Contact between wild animals and farmed livestock may result in disease transmission with huge financial, welfare and ethical consequences. Conflicts between people and wildlife can also arise when species such as wild boar (Sus scrofa) consume crops or dig up pasture. This is a relatively recent problem in England where wild boar populations have become re-established in the last 20 years following a 500-year absence. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if and how often free-living wild boar visited two commercial pig farms near the Forest of Dean in southwest England. We placed 20 motion-sensitive camera traps at potential entry points to, and trails surrounding, the perimeter of two farmyards housing domestic pigs between August 2019 and February 2021, covering a total of 6030 trap nights. Forty wild boar detections were recorded on one farm spread across 27 nights, with a median (range) of 1 (0 to 7) night of wild boar activity per calendar month. Most of these wild boar detections occurred between ten and twenty metres of housed domestic pigs. No wild boar was detected at the other farm. These results confirm wild boar do visit commercial pig farms, and therefore, there is potential for contact and pathogen exchange between wild boar and domestic pigs. The visitation rates derived from this study could be used to parameterise disease transmission models of pathogens common to domestic pigs and wild boars, such as the African swine fever virus, and subsequently to develop mitigation strategies to reduce unwanted contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adam J Kucharski
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, UK
| | - Julian A Drewe
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, AL9 7TA UK
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14
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Uelze L, Bloch A, Borowiak M, Grobbel M, Deneke C, Fischer M, Malorny B, Pietsch M, Simon S, Szabó I, Tausch SH, Fischer J. What WGS Reveals about Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in Wildlife in Germany. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1911. [PMID: 34576806 PMCID: PMC8471515 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to gain an overview of the genetic diversity of Salmonella found in wildlife in Germany. We were particularly interested in exploring whether wildlife acts as a reservoir of certain serovars/subtypes or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Moreover, we wanted to explore the potential of Salmonella in spreading from wildlife to livestock and humans. To answer these questions, we sequenced 260 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates sampled between 2002 and 2020 from wildlife across Germany, using short-read whole genome sequencing. We found, consistent with previous findings, that some Salmonella sequence types are associated with certain animal species, such as S. Choleraesuis ST145 with wild boar and S. Enteritidis ST183 with hedgehogs. Antibiotic resistance was detected in 14.2% of all isolates, with resistance against important WATCH group antibiotics present in a small number of isolates. We further found that wildlife isolates do not form separate phylogenetic clusters distant to isolates from domestic animals and foodstuff, thus indicating frequent transmission events between these reservoirs. Overall, our study shows that Salmonella in German wildlife are diverse, with a low AMR burden and close links to Salmonella populations of farm and food-production environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Uelze
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Angelina Bloch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Maria Borowiak
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Mirjam Grobbel
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Carlus Deneke
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Burkhard Malorny
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Michael Pietsch
- Unit for Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11)/National Reference Centre for Salmonella and Other Bacterial Enteric Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Burgstr. 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany; (M.P.); (S.S.)
| | - Sandra Simon
- Unit for Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11)/National Reference Centre for Salmonella and Other Bacterial Enteric Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Burgstr. 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany; (M.P.); (S.S.)
| | - István Szabó
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Simon H. Tausch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
| | - Jennie Fischer
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany; (L.U.); (A.B.); (M.B.); (M.G.); (C.D.); (M.F.); (B.M.); (I.S.); (S.H.T.)
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15
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Sauter-Louis C, Conraths FJ, Probst C, Blohm U, Schulz K, Sehl J, Fischer M, Forth JH, Zani L, Depner K, Mettenleiter TC, Beer M, Blome S. African Swine Fever in Wild Boar in Europe-A Review. Viruses 2021; 13:1717. [PMID: 34578300 PMCID: PMC8472013 DOI: 10.3390/v13091717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of genotype II African swine fever (ASF) virus, presumably from Africa into Georgia in 2007, and its continuous spread through Europe and Asia as a panzootic disease of suids, continues to have a huge socio-economic impact. ASF is characterized by hemorrhagic fever leading to a high case/fatality ratio in pigs. In Europe, wild boar are especially affected. This review summarizes the currently available knowledge on ASF in wild boar in Europe. The current ASF panzootic is characterized by self-sustaining cycles of infection in the wild boar population. Spill-over and spill-back events occur from wild boar to domestic pigs and vice versa. The social structure of wild boar populations and the spatial behavior of the animals, a variety of ASF virus (ASFV) transmission mechanisms and persistence in the environment complicate the modeling of the disease. Control measures focus on the detection and removal of wild boar carcasses, in which ASFV can remain infectious for months. Further measures include the reduction in wild boar density and the limitation of wild boar movements through fences. Using these measures, the Czech Republic and Belgium succeeded in eliminating ASF in their territories, while the disease spread in others. So far, no vaccine is available to protect wild boar or domestic pigs reliably against ASF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Sauter-Louis
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.J.C.); (C.P.); (K.S.)
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.J.C.); (C.P.); (K.S.)
| | - Carolina Probst
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.J.C.); (C.P.); (K.S.)
| | - Ulrike Blohm
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Immunology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Katja Schulz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.J.C.); (C.P.); (K.S.)
| | - Julia Sehl
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Melina Fischer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.F.); (J.H.F.); (M.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Jan Hendrik Forth
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.F.); (J.H.F.); (M.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Laura Zani
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (L.Z.); (K.D.)
| | - Klaus Depner
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of International Animal Health/One Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (L.Z.); (K.D.)
| | - Thomas C. Mettenleiter
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Martin Beer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.F.); (J.H.F.); (M.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Sandra Blome
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (M.F.); (J.H.F.); (M.B.); (S.B.)
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16
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Gallardo C, Soler A, Nurmoja I, Cano-Gómez C, Cvetkova S, Frant M, Woźniakowski G, Simón A, Pérez C, Nieto R, Arias M. Dynamics of African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection in domestic pigs infected with virulent, moderate virulent and attenuated genotype II ASFV European isolates. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 68:2826-2841. [PMID: 34273247 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the infection dynamics of three genotype II African swine fever viruses (ASFV) circulating in Europe. Eighteen domestic pigs divided into three groups were infected intramuscularly or by direct contact with two haemadsorbent ASFVs (HAD) from Poland (Pol16/DP/ OUT21) and Estonia (Est16/WB/Viru8), and with the Latvian non-HAD ASFV (Lv17/WB/Rie1). Parameters, such as symptoms, pathogenicity, and distribution of the virus in tissues, humoral immune response, and dissemination of the virus by blood, oropharyngeal and rectal routes, were investigated. The Polish ASFV caused a case of rapidly developing fatal acute disease, while the Estonian ASFV caused acute to sub-acute infections and two animals survived. In contrast, animals infected with the ASFV from Latvia developed a more subtle, mild, or even subclinical disease. Oral excretion was sporadic or even absent in the attenuated group, whereas in animals that developed an acute or sub-acute form of ASF, oral excretion began at the same time the ASFV was detected in the blood, or even 3 days earlier, and persisted up to 22 days. Regardless of virulence, blood was the main route of transmission of ASFV and infectious virus was isolated from persistently infected animals for at least 19 days in the attenuated group and up to 44 days in the group of moderate virulence. Rectal excretion was limited to the acute phase of infection. In terms of diagnostics, the ASFV genome was detected in contact pigs from oropharyngeal samples earlier than in blood, independently of virulence. Together with blood, both samples could allow to detect ASFV infection for a longer period. The results presented here provide quantitative data on the spread and excretion of ASFV strains of different virulence among domestic pigs that can help to better focus surveillance activities and, thus, increase the ability to detect ASF introductions earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmina Gallardo
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Soler
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Imbi Nurmoja
- Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory, Estonian ASF-National reference laboratory (NRL), Kreutzwaldi, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Cristina Cano-Gómez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Svetlana Cvetkova
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Enviroment, BIOR, Latvian ASF-National reference laboratory, Lejupes, Riga, Latvia
| | - Maciej Frant
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Poland ASF-National reference laboratory, Partyzantow, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Woźniakowski
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Poland ASF-National reference laboratory, Partyzantow, Pulawy, Poland.,Department of Diagnostics and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska, Toruń, Poland
| | - Alicia Simón
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Covadonga Pérez
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Nieto
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marisa Arias
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA, INIA-CSIC, European Union Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (EURL), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
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17
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Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Schmidt C, Herskin M, Michel V, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Winckler C, Blome S, Boklund A, Bøtner A, Dhollander S, Rapagnà C, Van der Stede Y, Miranda Chueca MA. Research priorities to fill knowledge gaps in wild boar management measures that could improve the control of African swine fever in wild boar populations. EFSA J 2021; 19:e06716. [PMID: 34354769 PMCID: PMC8319816 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to provide study designs for the investigation of four research domains (RDs) according to major gaps in knowledge identified by EFSA in a report published in 2019: (RD 1) African swine fever (ASF) epidemiology in wild boar; (RD 2) ASF transmission by vectors; (RD 3) African swine fever virus (ASFV) survival in the environment, and (RD 4) the patterns of seasonality of ASF in wild boar and domestic pigs in the EU. In this Scientific Opinion, the second RD on ASF epidemiology in wild boar is addressed. Twenty-nine research objectives were proposed by the working group and broader ASF expert networks and 23 of these research objectives met a prespecified inclusion criterion. Fourteen of these 23 research objectives met the predefined threshold for selection and so were prioritised based on the following set of criteria: (1) the impact on ASF management; (2) the feasibility or practicality to carry out the study; (3) the potential implementation of study results in practice; (4) a possible short time-frame study (< 1 year); (5) the novelty of the study; and (6) if it was a priority for risk managers. Finally, after further elimination of three of the proposed research objectives due to overlapping scope of studies published during the development of this opinion, 11 research priorities were elaborated into short research proposals, considering the potential impact on ASF management and the period of one year for the research activities.
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18
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Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Herskin M, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Michel V, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Sihvonen LH, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Blome S, More S, Gervelmeyer A, Antoniou S, Gortázar Schmidt C. African swine fever and outdoor farming of pigs. EFSA J 2021; 19:e06639. [PMID: 34140998 PMCID: PMC8188572 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This opinion describes outdoor farming of pigs in the EU, assesses the risk of African swine fewer (ASF) introduction and spread associated with outdoor pig farms and proposes biosecurity and control measures for outdoor pig farms in ASF-affected areas of the EU. Evidence was collected from Member States (MSs) veterinary authorities, farmers' associations, literature and legislative documents. An Expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) was carried out to group outdoor pig farms according to their risk of introduction and spread of ASF, to rank biosecurity measures regarding their effectiveness with regard to ASF and propose improvements of biosecurity for outdoor pig farming and accompanying control measures. Outdoor pig farming is common and various farm types are present throughout the EU. As there is no legislation at European level for categorising outdoor pig farms in the EU, information is limited, not harmonised and needs to be interpreted with care. The baseline risk of outdoor pig farms for ASFV introduction and its spread is high but with considerable uncertainty. The Panel is 66-90% certain that, if single solid or double fences were fully and properly implemented on all outdoor pig farms in areas of the EU where ASF is present in wild boar and in domestic pigs in indoor farms and outdoor farms (worst case scenario not considering different restriction zones or particular situations), without requiring any other outdoor-specific biosecurity measures or control measures, this would reduce the number of new ASF outbreaks occurring in these farms within a year by more than 50% compared to the baseline risk. The Panel concludes that the regular implementation of independent and objective on-farm biosecurity assessments using comprehensive standard protocols and approving outdoor pig farms on the basis of their biosecurity risk in an official system managed by competent authorities will further reduce the risk of ASF introduction and spread related to outdoor pig farms.
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19
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Pollock LA, Newton EJ, Koen EL. Predicting high-risk areas for African swine fever spread at the wild-domestic pig interface in Ontario. Prev Vet Med 2021; 191:105341. [PMID: 33848740 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The probability of disease transmission among livestock premises via spillover from wildlife vectors depends on interacting ecological, demographic, and behavioural variables. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) act as vectors and reservoirs of many diseases, including African Swine Fever (ASF), a highly lethal and contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic swine. Wild pigs play a significant role in the spread of ASF in geographic locations where the disease is present. Planning and preparedness will ensure that swift action can be taken to control ASF if it is introduced into North America. We used a network to predict the highest risk areas for ASF spread in Ontario, Canada given the distribution of wild pig sightings and other risk factors for wild pig presence and movement on the landscape. We used network nodes to represent the presence of domestic pig farms in a defined area, and we weighted network edges by the probability of ASF virus movement between nodes via movement of wild pigs. Our network models predicted that central Ontario has relatively high network closeness, suggesting that this area has a relatively high risk of virus exposure. These highly connected areas tended to also have the highest domestic pig farm density within a node. Central and eastern Ontario had the highest predicted network betweenness, suggesting that these areas are important for controlling virus flow across the province. We detected 10 communities or clusters within the overall network, where nodes were highly connected locally and relatively less connected to the rest of the network. Predicting areas with a high risk of exposure to the ASF virus due to wild pig movement in Ontario will guide managers on where to focus surveillance for ASF in the wild pig population and where to heighten biosecurity within commercial and backyard pig farms, ensuring that managers are prepared to act quickly to limit spread of ASF if the virus is introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Pollock
- Trent University, Department of Biology, Peterborough, ON, Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Erica J Newton
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Erin L Koen
- Trent University, Department of Biology, Peterborough, ON, Canada; Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
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20
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Swift and Reliable "Easy Lab" Methods for the Sensitive Molecular Detection of African Swine Fever Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052307. [PMID: 33669073 PMCID: PMC7956467 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral hemorrhagic disease of domestic pigs and wild boars. The disease is notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and is responsible for high mortality and serious economic losses. PCR and real-time PCR (qPCR) are the OIE-recommended standard methods for the direct detection of African swine fever virus (ASFV) DNA. The aim of our work was the simplification and standardization of the molecular diagnostic workflow in the lab. For validation of this “easy lab” workflow, different sample materials from animal trials were collected and analyzed (EDTA blood, serum, oral swabs, chewing ropes, and tissue samples) to identify the optimal sample material for diagnostics in live animals. Based on our data, the EDTA blood samples or bloody tissue samples represent the best specimens for ASFV detection in the early and late phases of infection. The application of prefilled ready-to-use reagents for nucleic acid extraction or the use of a Tissue Lysis Reagent (TLR) delivers simple and reliable alternatives for the release of the ASFV nucleic acids. For the qPCR detection of ASFV, different published and commercial kits were compared. Here, a lyophilized commercial kit shows the best results mainly based on the increased template input. The good results of the “easy lab” strategy could be confirmed by the ASFV detection in field samples from wild boars collected from the 2020 ASFV outbreak in Germany. Appropriate internal control systems for extraction and PCR are key features of the “easy lab” concept and reduce the risk of false-negative and false-positive results. In addition, the use of easy-to-handle machines and software reduces training efforts and the misinterpretation of results. The PCR diagnostics based on the “easy lab” strategy can realize a high sensitivity and specificity comparable to the standard PCR methods and should be especially usable for labs with limited experiences and resources.
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21
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Hernández FA, Manqui J, Mejías C, Acosta-Jamett G. Domestic Dogs and Wild Foxes Interactions in a Wildlife-Domestic Interface of North-Central Chile: Implications for Multi-Host Pathogen Transmission. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:631788. [PMID: 33634181 PMCID: PMC7899968 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.631788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) often cohabite at interfaces shared by humans and wildlife, interacting with wild canids as predators, prey, competitors and reservoirs of several multi-host pathogens, such as canid-borne micro and macro parasites that could impact on wildlife, livestock and public health. However, spatio-temporal patterns of indirect interactions as promoters of pathogen transfer between domestic and wild canids are largely unknown. In this study, we used camera traps to describe the activity patterns and habitat use of dogs, chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) foxes and identify the local-scale factors that may affect the frequency of dog-fox interactions through an anthropization gradient of the Coquimbo region, Chile. We assessed local-scale variables that may predict the number of interactions between dogs and foxes, and compared the time interval between dog-culpeo and dog-chilla interactions. Our findings suggested that closeness to urbanized zones predicts the frequency of indirect interactions between dogs and foxes. We found higher number of dog-fox interactions (60 interactions) at a periurban site adjacent to two coastal towns (Tongoy and Guanaqueros), compared to other two more undisturbed sites (12 interactions) increasingly distanced from urbanized areas. We showed that dogs interacted more frequently with chilla foxes (57 interactions) than with culpeo foxes (15 interactions), and the first interaction type occurred almost exclusively at the periurban site, where dogs and chillas were more frequently detected than in the other sites. We detected a marked temporal segregation between dogs and foxes, but dog-chilla interactions resulted in shorter time intervals (2.5 median days) compared to dog-culpeo interactions (7.6 median days), suggesting a higher potential risk of pathogen spillover between the first species pairing. Based on previous studies, we suggest periurban zones may constitute a potential focus of pathogen exposure between dog and fox populations in the study area. Our research contributes to improving the knowledge on the spatio-temporal patterns of interspecific contact between invasive and native carnivores within the context of multi-host pathogen dynamics. Our outcomes will inform theoretical epidemiological models designed to predict and minimize the contact risk between domestic and threatened species, guiding effective control strategies at the wildlife-domestic interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe A Hernández
- Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Jonatan Manqui
- Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos Mejías
- Programa de Magíster en Ecología Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Gerardo Acosta-Jamett
- Instituto de Medicina Preventiva Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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22
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A Review of Risk Factors of African Swine Fever Incursion in Pig Farming within the European Union Scenario. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10010084. [PMID: 33478169 PMCID: PMC7835761 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable viral disease of pigs and wild boars that could lead to serious economic losses for the entire European pork industry. As no effective treatment or vaccination is available, disease prevention and control rely on strictly enforced biosecurity measures tailored to the specific risk factors of ASF introduction within domestic pig populations. Here, we present a review addressing the risk factors associated with different European pig farming systems in the context of the actual epidemiological scenario. A list of keywords was combined into a Boolean query, “African swine fever” AND (“Risk factors” OR “Transmission” OR “Spread” OR “Pig farming” OR “Pigs” OR “Wild boars”); was run on 4 databases; and resulted in 52 documents of interest being reviewed. Based on our review, each farming system has its own peculiar risk factors: commercial farms, where best practices are already in place, may suffer from unintentional breaches in biosecurity, while backyard and outdoor farms may suffer from poor ASF awareness, sociocultural factors, and contact with wild boars. In the literature selected for our review, human-related activities and behaviours are presented as the main risks, but we also stress the need to implement biosecurity measures also tailored to risks factors that are specific for the different pig farming practices in the European Union (EU).
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23
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Kosowska A, Cadenas-Fernández E, Barroso S, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Barasona JA. Distinct African Swine Fever Virus Shedding in Wild Boar Infected with Virulent and Attenuated Isolates. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040767. [PMID: 33339147 PMCID: PMC7765575 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the reappearance of African swine fever virus (ASFV), the disease has spread in an unprecedented animal pandemic in Eurasia. ASF currently constitutes the greatest global problem for the swine industry. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) in which the pathogen has established wild self-sustaining cycles, is a key reservoir for ASFV, signifying that there is an urgent need to develop an effective vaccine against this virus. Current scientific debate addresses whether live attenuated vaccines (LAVs), which have shown promising results in cross-protection of susceptible hosts, may be feasible for vaccinations carried out owing to safety concerns. The objective of this study was, therefore, to compare the ASFV shedding in wild boar infected with virulent and attenuated (LAV) isolates. Different shedding routes (oral fluid and feces) and viremia rates were characterized in wild boar inoculated with Lv17/WB/Rie1 isolate (n = 12) when compared to those inoculated with the virulent Armenia07 isolate (n = 17). In general, fewer animals infected with the Lv17/WB/Rie1 isolate tested positive for ASFV in blood, oral fluid, and feces in comparison to animals infected with the virulent Armenia07 isolate. The shedding patterns were characterized in order to understand the transmission dynamics. This knowledge will help evaluate the shedding of new LAV candidates in wild boar populations, including the comparison with gene deletion mutant LAVs, whose current results are promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kosowska
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-F.); (S.B.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (J.A.B.)
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-F.); (S.B.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Barroso
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-F.); (S.B.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-F.); (S.B.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-F.); (S.B.); (J.M.S.-V.)
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (J.A.B.)
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24
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Bacigalupo SA, Dixon LK, Gubbins S, Kucharski AJ, Drewe JA. Towards a unified generic framework to define and observe contacts between livestock and wildlife: a systematic review. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10221. [PMID: 33173619 PMCID: PMC7594637 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild animals are the source of many pathogens of livestock and humans. Concerns about the potential transmission of economically important and zoonotic diseases from wildlife have led to increased surveillance at the livestock-wildlife interface. Knowledge of the types, frequency and duration of contacts between livestock and wildlife is necessary to identify risk factors for disease transmission and to design possible mitigation strategies. Observing the behaviour of many wildlife species is challenging due to their cryptic nature and avoidance of humans, meaning there are relatively few studies in this area. Further, a consensus on the definition of what constitutes a 'contact' between wildlife and livestock is lacking. A systematic review was conducted to investigate which livestock-wildlife contacts have been studied and why, as well as the methods used to observe each species. Over 30,000 publications were screened, of which 122 fulfilled specific criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The majority of studies examined cattle contacts with badgers or with deer; studies involving wild pig contacts with cattle or with domestic pigs were the next most frequent. There was a range of observational methods including motion-activated cameras and global positioning system collars. As a result of the wide variation and lack of consensus in the definitions of direct and indirect contacts, we developed a unified framework to define livestock-wildlife contacts that is sufficiently flexible to be applied to most wildlife and livestock species for non-vector-borne diseases. We hope this framework will help standardise the collection and reporting of contact data; a valuable step towards being able to compare the efficacy of wildlife-livestock observation methods. In doing so, it may aid the development of better disease transmission models and improve the design and effectiveness of interventions to reduce or prevent disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simon Gubbins
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Kucharski
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Triguero-Ocaña R, Laguna E, Jiménez-Ruiz S, Fernández-López J, García-Bocanegra I, Barasona JÁ, Risalde MÁ, Montoro V, Vicente J, Acevedo P. The wildlife-livestock interface on extensive free-ranging pig farms in central Spain during the "montanera" period. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:2066-2078. [PMID: 32979253 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The effective management of shared pathogens between wild ungulates and livestock requires the understanding of the processes of interaction between them. In this work, we studied the interspecific frequency of interaction (ifreq) and its spatiotemporal pattern between wild and domestic ungulates that coexist in free-ranging farms. For this purpose, 6 red deer, 6 wild boar, 8 Iberian pigs and 3 cattle were monitored using GPS devices during the "montanera" period (the period in which Iberian pigs are maintained in extensive conditions to feed on acorn). The ifreq was quantified for two spatiotemporal windows: 30 m - 10 min, for inferring potential direct interactions (short window), and 30 m - 12 days for indirect interactions (large window). Secondly, the variation in the ifreq was modelled with regard to 2 temporal (time of the day and week of the year) and 4 environmental factors (distance to water, distance to vegetation cover, Quercus density and distance to feeding points). The interactions at the short window were scarce (N = 13); however, they were very frequent at the large one (N = 37,429), with the red deer as the species with the greatest involvement in the interactions. Models showed that the time of the day and distance to water were the variables that best predicted the ifreq and they were conditioned by differences in the activity pattern of the targeted species. Food resource availability also predicted the ifreq, especially at the short window and between wild species. The results presented here highlight the role that wild ungulates may play in the transmission of pathogens to extensive livestock in general and pigs in particular and show the epidemiological risk of certain areas, periods of time and management practices (for wildlife and livestock) as well as providing useful information in the prevention of the transmission of shared pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Triguero-Ocaña
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Laguna
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Saúl Jiménez-Ruiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario (ceiA3), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-López
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario (ceiA3), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jose Ángel Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ángeles Risalde
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Vidal Montoro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, UCLM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Joaquín Vicente
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, UCLM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pelayo Acevedo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.,Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, UCLM, Ciudad Real, Spain
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26
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African Swine Fever Circulation among Free-Ranging Pigs in Sardinia: Data from the Eradication Program. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030549. [PMID: 32967098 PMCID: PMC7563918 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
African swine fever virus (ASFV), the cause of a devastating disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, has been present in Sardinia since 1978. In the framework of the regional ASF eradication plan, 4484 illegal pigs were culled between December 2017 and February 2020. The highest disease prevalence was observed in the municipality with the highest free-ranging pig density, and culling actions drastically reduced ASFV circulation among these animals. ASFV-antibody were detected in 36.7% of tested animals, which were apparently healthy, thus, the circulation of low-virulence ASFV isolates was hypothesized. ASFV genome was detected in 53 out of 2726 tested animals, and virus isolation was achieved in two distinct culling actions. Two ASFV haemadsorbing strains were isolated from antibody-positive apparently healthy pigs: 55234/18 and 103917/18. Typing analysis revealed that both isolates belong to p72 genotype I, B602L subgroup X; phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome sequencing data showed that they were closely related to Sardinian ASFV strains collected since 2010, especially 22653/Ca/2014. Our data suggested the absence of immune-escaped ASFV variants circulating among free-ranging pigs, indicating that other elements contributed to virus circulation among these animals. Understanding factors behind disease persistence in endemic settings might contribute to developing effective countermeasures against this disease.
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27
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Halasa T, Græsbøll K, Denwood M, Christensen LE, Kirkeby C. Prediction Models in Veterinary and Human Epidemiology: Our Experience With Modeling Sars-CoV-2 Spread. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:513. [PMID: 33062646 PMCID: PMC7477293 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide outbreak of Sars-CoV-2 resulted in modelers from diverse fields being called upon to help predict the spread of the disease, resulting in many new collaborations between different institutions. We here present our experience with bringing our skills as veterinary disease modelers to bear on the field of human epidemiology, building models as tools for decision makers, and bridging the gap between the medical and veterinary fields. We describe and compare the key steps taken in modeling the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak: criteria for model choices, model structure, contact structure between individuals, transmission parameters, data availability, model validation, and disease management. Finally, we address how to improve on the contingency infrastructure available for Sars-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq Halasa
- Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kaare Græsbøll
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Matthew Denwood
- Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Lasse Engbo Christensen
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carsten Kirkeby
- Section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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28
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Rodríguez-Bertos A, Cadenas-Fernández E, Rebollada-Merino A, Porras-González N, Mayoral-Alegre FJ, Barreno L, Kosowska A, Tomé-Sánchez I, Barasona JA, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Clinical Course and Gross Pathological Findings in Wild Boar Infected with a Highly Virulent Strain of African Swine Fever Virus Genotype II. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9090688. [PMID: 32842614 PMCID: PMC7559345 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable disease that in recent years has spread remarkably in Europe and Asia. Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) plays a key role in the maintenance and spread of the pathogen. Here we examined gross pathology of infection in wild boar with a highly virulent, hemadsorbing genotype II ASF virus (ASFV) strain. To this end, six wild boars were intramuscularly inoculated with the 10 HAD50 Arm07 ASFV strain, and 11 wild boars were allowed to come into direct contact with the inoculated animals. No animals survived the infection. Clinical course, gross pathological findings and viral genome quantification by PCR in tissues did not differ between intramuscularly inoculated or contact-infected animals. Postmortem analysis showed enlargement of liver and spleen; serosanguinous effusion in body cavities; and multiple hemorrhages in lungs, endocardium, brain, kidneys, urinary bladder, pancreas, and alimentary system. These results provide detailed insights into the gross pathology of wild boar infected with a highly virulent genotype II ASFV strain. From a didactic point of view, this detailed clinical course and macroscopic description may be essential for early postmortem detection of outbreaks in wild boar in the field and contribute to disease surveillance and prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Rodríguez-Bertos
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín Rebollada-Merino
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Néstor Porras-González
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lucía Barreno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aleksandra Kosowska
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Tomé-Sánchez
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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29
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Bosch J, Barasona JA, Cadenas-Fernández E, Jurado C, Pintore A, Denurra D, Cherchi M, Vicente J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. Retrospective spatial analysis for African swine fever in endemic areas to assess interactions between susceptible host populations. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233473. [PMID: 32469923 PMCID: PMC7259610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most complex and significant diseases from a sanitary-economic perspective currently affecting the world's swine-farming industry. ASF has been endemic in Sardinia (Italy) since 1978, and several control and eradication programmes have met with limited success. In this traditional ASF endemic area, there are three susceptible host populations for this virus sharing the same habitat: wild boar, farmed domestic pigs and non-registered free-ranging pigs (known as "brado" animals). The main goal of this study was to determine and predict fine-scale spatial interactions of this multi-host system in relation to the epidemiology of ASF in the main endemic area of Sardinia, Montes-Orgosolo. To this end, simultaneous monitoring of GPS-GSM collared wild boar and free-ranging pigs sightings were performed to predict interaction indexes through latent selection difference functions with environmental, human and farming factors. Regarding epidemiological assessment, the spatial inter-specific interaction indexes obtained here were used to correlate ASF notifications in wild boar and domestic pig farms. Daily movement patterns, home ranges (between 120.7 and 2,622.8 ha) and resource selection of wild boar were obtained for the first time on the island. Overall, our prediction model showed the highest spatial interactions between wild boar and free-ranging pigs in areas close to pig farms. A spatially explicit model was obtained to map inter-specific interaction over the complete ASF-endemic area of the island. Our approach to monitoring interaction indexes may help explain the occurrence of ASF notifications in wild boar and domestic pigs on a fine-spatial scale. These results support the recent and effective eradication measures taken in Sardinia. In addition, this methodology could be extrapolated to apply in the current epidemiological scenarios of ASF in Eurasia, where exist multi-host systems involving free-ranging pigs and wild boar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Bosch
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Barasona
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cadenas-Fernández
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Jurado
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Pintore
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Daniele Denurra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Marcella Cherchi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Joaquín Vicente
- Spanish Wildlife Research Institute (IREC) (CSIC-UCLM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Jose M. Sánchez-Vizcaíno
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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30
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Salguero FJ. Comparative Pathology and Pathogenesis of African Swine Fever Infection in Swine. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:282. [PMID: 32509811 PMCID: PMC7248413 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease that affects animals of the Suidae family, and soft ticks from the genus Ornithodoros can also be infected by the ASF virus (ASFV). The disease was first described in Africa at the beginning of the twentieth century as an acute disease characterized by high mortality and fatal hemorrhages. ASF has caused outbreaks in numerous countries and it continues to be devastating nowadays for the porcine sector in those countries affected, and a massive threat for those free of the disease. ASF can follow clinical courses from peracute to chronic in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) depending on a variety of factors, including the immune status of the animals and the virulence of the ASFV strain. The key features of the pathogenesis of the disease in domestic swine are a) a severe lymphoid depletion including lymphopenia and a state of immunodeficiency, and b) hemorrhages. However, African wild swine like bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus), red river hogs (Potamochoerus porcus), and warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) can be infected by ASFV showing no clinical signs of disease and acting as natural reservoir hosts. In this article we review the key features of the gross and microscopic pathology together with a description of the pathogenesis of ASFV infection in domestic pigs following the different clinical courses. The pathogenesis of ASF in wild and domestic swine is also described, what can provide important information for the design of control strategies, such as vaccines.
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