African swine fever

African swine fever is a severe, often fatal viral disease of domestic pigs and wild suids. It does not infect humans.

African swine fever virus: A large double-stranded DNA virus in the family Asfarviridae that causes African swine fever. Its biology underlies the disease’s severity and persistence in hosts and environments.
African swine fever diagnosis: The identification of African swine fever infection using clinical assessment and laboratory tests. Rapid confirmation distinguishes this disease from other severe pig illnesses and triggers official action.
African swine fever in Africa: The disease’s circulation in African regions where wild suids and soft ticks can form natural transmission cycles. African wildlife reservoirs distinguish many regional transmission patterns from outbreaks elsewhere.
Classical swine fever: A contagious viral disease of pigs caused by classical swine fever virus, a pestivirus. Its signs can resemble African swine fever, but the viruses and diagnostic tests differ.
ASFV transmission: The spread of African swine fever virus through direct contact, contaminated materials, and certain vectors. Multiple transmission routes allow outbreaks to move between farms and wild suid populations.
Polymerase chain reaction: A laboratory method that amplifies selected DNA sequences for detection and analysis. PCR tests detect African swine fever virus DNA in blood and tissue samples.
African swine fever in Europe: The spread of African swine fever across parts of Europe since its reintroduction in the 2000s. European outbreaks demonstrate persistence in wild boar alongside costly impacts on pig farming.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome: A viral pig disease that commonly causes reproductive failure and respiratory illness. It affects pigs but usually presents differently from the acute hemorrhagic disease of African swine fever.
Soft ticks: Ticks in the family Argasidae, some of which transmit pathogens between animal hosts. Ornithodoros soft ticks can maintain and transmit African swine fever virus in some regions.
Veterinary biosecurity: Practices that prevent infectious agents from entering or spreading within animal populations. Farm controls on people, equipment, feed, and animal movement reduce introduction and onward spread.

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